Dental Crowns vs. Inlays and Onlays
Austin, TX
Teeth can be restored and perfected with the use of dental prosthetics such as a dental crown, inlay or onlay. We can strengthen, improve the aesthetic or even restore an entirely missing tooth. What you are looking to accomplish will help guide the treatment plan and the prosthetic being used. Our staff at South Austin Dental can help you find the right treatment option to fit your needs.
Your teeth are important, and keeping them healthy is better for your oral health, your diet, and your overall health. We want to keep bacteria and infection at bay, while also giving you teeth that can chew and break down your regular diet. Maintaining your teeth can play a positive role in your health.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is a cap for a tooth. It can be used as a restorative structure, an aesthetic structure, and often both. Crowns are typically made from porcelain, ceramic, gold and other metals. The material used can be dependent on where the crown is being placed and how visible it will be. Different materials come with different advantages.
Dental crowns are customized to fully surround and encase the original tooth beneath. It provides a solid shield to protect a tooth that has been damaged, and allows us to make small alterations to the look of a natural tooth. This means that if the original tooth was crooked, had gaps, or was mishshapped or sized, we can adjust that.
Crowns are often suggested following a large cavity, breakage, and after root canal therapy. This will add a layer of strength and help you keep the natural tooth structure for years to come.
Dental Crowns for Missing Teeth
In addition to providing strength, we can now replace missing teeth with dental crowns. When a patient has a missing tooth, we can surgically place a new root system, known as a tooth implant or dental implant. Once the new root is healed, we can then place a dental crown over the implant providing a tooth that is firm and permanent in your mouth. Dental implants can be used with other prosthetics as well for patients missing multiple teeth. We can discuss the placement of a dental bridge or even a full denture permanently stabilized in your mouth with dental implants.
Dental Inlay and Onlay
A dental inlay or onlay is a partial crown. Instead of a full cap, an inlay and onlay are a partial cap customized to fit over only the damaged portion of the tooth. This may be an ideal treatment for a patient who is seeking care with minimal impact. Dental inlays and onlays are often categorized as a more dental holistic treatment. This is because it is less invasive of a treatment. A dental inlay is customized to fit inside of a tooth that has a large cavity, and a dental onlay is customized to fit on a broken or outer wall of a tooth.
For more information, contact our Austin office at (512) 441-8922. |
