What is the difference between Inlays, Onlays, and Crowns?
They all strengthen and repair a damaged tooth, but generally the type of restoration we use is determined by the extent of the damage. At our practice we use CEREC, a computer aided technology that allows us to create dental crowns and other all-porcelain restorations is a single appointment. A digital scan is taken of your tooth and sent to the CEREC milling unit, where the restoration is carved from a block of porcelain ceramic, right in our office—no need for outside dental laboratories!
Inlays – Inlays are used when a cavity has grown too big to be treated with a traditional filling. Made of porcelain and milled to perfectly to fit your tooth, the inlay lies within the cusps of the tooth’s chewing surface.- Onlay – Onlays are usually slightly larger and encompass some portion of the tooth cusps themselves. This makes the restoration lie on top of the tooth (or on the outer edge) rather than within the cusps.
- Crowns provides full restoration for a tooth that has extensive damage or decay. After the tooth is prepared and any decay removed, the crown fits over the entire visible portion of the tooth and can be used normally for biting and chewing.
If you are suffering with a severe cavity or broken/damaged teeth, don’t wait any longer for the problem to worsen. Let us make you a porcelain restoration that perfectly matches the shade of your teeth and brings back their full function!
