Why should i have a crown? can i wait? it does not hurt all the time. only when i bite just at the right place... that's all.... pros and cons of a crown

Without : Without knowledge of why you may need a crown it is difficult to answer your question. Basically a crown is a protective casing that is placed on a tooth to prevent damage to the tooth and to protect the health of the nerve. If a tooth has a root canal, the tooth is at risk of becoming brittle due to lack of blood supply (it was removed along with the nerve tissue) and eventually fracturing. The fact that the tooth hurts when you bite on it is an alert your body is sending you that something is wrong. Discuss your concerns with your dentist and he can tell you why a crown is indicated.

Were : Were you told that you needed a crown by your dentist? What was the reasoning for placing the crown? Does the tooth have root canal therapy completed? As advised, pain on biting could be indicative of a fracture. It could also be that a very large filling is loose. If a fracture, a crown may prevent the fracture from getting worse. Hard to advise you definitively without an exam and radiograph.

It : It sounds like you are describing a fractured tooth. You may be able to wait if it doesn't bother you too much. You do run the risk that you may fracture it further and it may be more complex to restore it than merely placing a crown.