How is caries under a crown treated? | Caries treatment

How is caries under a crown treated?

Caries treatment is not always fully covered by the statutory health insurance companies. In this context, localization and the desired filling material play a decisive role. In the visible anterior region, the statutory health insurance covers all costs for a tooth-colored plastic filling.

This regulation concerns the incisors and canines of the upper and lower jaw. Carious defects in the posterior region, i.e. on the premolars and molars, cannot usually be treated with a plastic filling without having to pay an own contribution (i.e. without additional costs for the patient).

The statutory health insurance companies only cover visible amalgam fillings in this area. A special regulation applies to those patients who, for health reasons (for example, because of a severe kidney disease) are not allowed to receive caries treatment with amalgam fillings. For these patients, the statutory health insurance covers the costs of a plastic filling, also in the posterior tooth area.

However, the insured also has the option of choosing a tooth-colored plastic filling in the posterior region. However, the additional costs incurred by this form of caries treatment (so-called additional costs) must then be borne by the patient. Depending on the extent of the carious defect, a simple caries treatment can cause costs between 40 and 150 Euros.

Caries treatment for small children

Early treatment of caries in young children is very important. A spread of caries deep into the tooth must be prevented at all costs, as this would mean root canal treatment and crowning of the milk tooth or, in the worst case, extraction (= removal of the tooth). The affected area is anaesthetized before the treatment.

If children are very afraid of setting the tip or of the dental treatment and the treatment becomes impossible because of this, a nitrous oxide anaesthesia can be used. The caries on the milk tooth is removed and the tooth can then be filled with either plastic or cement. The cement filling is fully covered by the health insurance company.

It is yellow-white, softer than plastic and for this reason it does not last as long as a plastic filling. The filling with plastic can be adapted very precisely to the color of the tooth, is suitable for larger areas in contrast to cement and is more durable. However, a private co-payment must be made for this filling material.

The choice of the material depends on the size of the carious defect on the one hand and on the location of the caries on the other hand. In the anterior region, esthetics is more important than in the posterior region and indicates an acrylic filling rather than a cement filling.