Dental Crowns vs. Inlays & Onlays About 91% of Americans over the age of 20 have had cavities at some point in life. Although many cavities can be sufficiently fixed by dental fillings, sometimes the enamel erosion is too large for these simple restorations to get the job done right. At Singing River Dentistry, our doctors and Our doctors we can repair the damage to your teeth with the help of inlays and onlays or dental crowns.Request an Appointment Dental Crowns as Cavity RestorationsDental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that replace the visible part of your natural tooth. These restoration devices cover a damaged or weakened tooth from the top of the crown to the gum line. Dental crowns restore your teeth’s chewing ability and allow you to smile freely. These crowns are made from a variety of different materials including gold, metal alloy, porcelain, porcelain fused with metal, and composite resin. These crowns have varying levels of strength but all of them can last for years with proper care. Inlays and Onlays as Cavity RestorationsInlays and onlays are also known as indirect fillings. Unlike regular fillings, these restorations are not applied in layers. Instead, they are created by taking an impression of the affected tooth and sending it to a dental lab for fabrication. Hence, they are custom-made to tightly fit with the contours of your tooth. Dental Crowns vs. Inlays and OnlaysAt Singing River Dentistry, our doctors and Our doctors we may recommend you a dental crown if your cavity is deep and the infection has entered the dental chamber where the soft pulp and tooth nerve resides. In this case, a simple filling will not be able to fix your tooth. The first step is to get rid of the infection before repairing the cavity. To do that, we will perform a root canal therapy that will remove the infected tissue from the tooth chamber. Then we will fill and seal the tooth chamber tightly so that bacteria may not be able to re-enter it. Once a root canal therapy has been performed successfully, we will shape your tooth to accommodate a dental crown. An impression of your tooth will be made and sent to a dental lab for fabrication. This process can take about two weeks. Once the crown is ready, we will fix it on top of your weakened tooth. A dental crown is a strong prosthetic and is very effective in restoring the integrity and function of your tooth. Inlays and onlays, like a dental crown, are also manufactured in a dental lab. However, they are different from a crown. For one, they do not require root canal therapy. Like crowns, they are made from a variety of materials. These indirect fillings are placed on your tooth when the damage does not warrant a crown but cannot be easily fixed by a regular dental filling. An inlay is custom-made to fit the fissure and pits of your back teeth but it does not extend to the cusp of the teeth. On the other hand, onlays not only cover the grooves in your teeth but also the cusps of the tooth. Out of these three dental restorations, dental crowns are the strongest and most durable choice. However, inlays and onlays are better for your dental health since they preserve more of the natural tooth structure. If you notice you have a cavity, do not wait for it to get big. Even though inlays, onlays, and dental crowns are very effective restorations, they won’t be able to prevent you from losing your teeth if too much of your tooth structure becomes decayed. That is why we recommend you exercise good oral care and keep your dental appointments with us so that we can detect any issues in your teeth and treat them quickly before they have a chance to become bigger. Schedule Today!To ensure your teeth remain healthy and strong, call and schedule an appointment with us today. Request an Appointment |
