Crown vs large filling

[honeyandbutterontoast]

Six years ago I had onlays put on both my bottom number 6 molars. I had fractured them both from teeth grinding.

No problems until a month ago when I would occasionally get a sharp pain on one of if I bit anything hard. I went for a check up two weeks ago and was told the the tooth was fine.

Yesterday a big chunk of tooth fell out :( it has cracked and come off under the onlay. My dentist couldn’t see me so I had to see an emergency dentist.

They have advised either they try to patch a large filling in or do a crown. They recommended a crown as the tooth could fracture again with a filling. Crown is over twice the price.

Just not sure what to do. I have dental anxiety, I get freaked out by even the thought of a crown being something “foreign” and knowing it’s stuck in there. But I’m guessing a filling will only be a temporary measure.

And how now seen umpteen insta reels about how crowns are so bad etc…

I have 2 crowns, one next to front teeth, the other a back molar, both are good and I’ve never had any problems. I also have a back molar that is about 75% filling, which was done over 25 years ago, so was an old style ugly filling. A bit broke off so I thought dentist would recommend a crown but she said she would try and fill it again, but to obviously be careful eating hard food on that side, it’s been fine. My last crown was £1,700 in 2018, filling was £125 two years ago. Personally if the tooth is ok to fill, I would try that first.

Thank you.

I’ve been quoted 800 vs 350.

They told me it would be a filling which covered 3 surfaces, basically a quarter of the tooth came off. I’m just not sure how a filling under the onlay would work. If it would increase the pressure on the remaining tooth.

I ve just had a crown fitted yesterday oddly enough.

The temp one was a bit painful but 2 weeks later they fitted the permanent one in more or less like Lego . It's made especially for your mouth

I’m nervous at the dentist and had to have a crown, and it’s no different to a filling. Still have local anaesthetic and drilling. I then needed another 2 and wasn’t bothered about having them.
Personally I’d go for the crown as the big filling will eventually fail and you’ll need a crown anyway.

They will do it on the same day, it’s 3d printed in the lab there apparently.

it is highly likely that you will end up needing the crown further down the line. For peace of mind I would get it done now. They can remove the onlay and really assess the damage to the tooth.