Are Onlays and Crowns Similar?
Dental restorations help fix the natural appearance of a tooth by restoring cavities, cracks, and other damage. The options for restoring teeth are many and depend on the extent of the damage.
For example, dental crowns and Onlays serve a similar purpose. However, while a crown entirely encases a damaged tooth by covering its surface, merely part of the tooth is covered by an onlay alternatively called a partial crown.
If you want to understand whether crowns and Onlays are similar and their differences besides the advantages and disadvantages, we suggest you learn from this article providing more details.
How Do Crowns and Onlays Differ?
Dental fillings are appropriate for treating minor cavities and damage. Unfortunately, some holes and damage are extensive for fillings, in which case your dentist might recommend a crown or an onlay for the restoration.
Dental Onlays are appropriate to repair damage to the cusp of the tooth surfaces elevated part. Materials like porcelain and gold help make these restorations to cover the damaged portion of the tooth.
If you have an extensively damaged or decayed tooth, the dentist might recommend a crown fitting over the damaged tooth entirely. Crowns help restore a severely broken or worn tooth by encasing it completely to stop additional damage and save the natural tooth. Crowns are also made from porcelain and gold.
Benefits and Downsides of Crowns and Onlays
The condition of your tooth and the damage it has suffered determines whether you receive a recommendation for a crown or an onlay. However, understanding the benefits and downsides of these restorations is a requirement before you decide on either option.
Benefits of Crowns
Durable materials help make crowns similar to the material for making Onlays. Crowns help fix extensive damage to the tooth by protecting the decayed or damaged area of the tooth from additional damage. Crowns are also helpful for restoring the natural appearance of the tooth and help reshape if it is misshapen, besides maintaining the integrity of a tooth after root canal treatments.
Dental Onlay Benefits
Similar materials help make dental Onlays like crowns. Onlays help repair and reshape a damaged tooth to lower the risk of additional decay. Onlays also restore the natural tooth appearance but require a conservative procedure to preserve more of your tooth structure because it doesn’t require extensive removal. Onlays are more cost-effective than crowns.
Downsides of Crowns
Extensive tooth structure removal is essential when getting crowns instead of Onlays, and the restoration is prone to chipping or breaking to need repairs. Crowns are not cost-effective because they are more expensive than dental Onlays. You might experience sensitivity to temperatures after getting crowns besides the risk of allergic reactions to the materials, especially if you have porcelain fused to metal crown. Crowns require multiple appointments with your dentist before getting them to fix your damaged or decayed tooth.
Dental Onlay Downsides
Dental Onlays are a more cost-effective restoration than crowns. However, they are also susceptible to chipping and breaking to need additional repairs. Sensitivity to temperatures is also a side-effect of dental Onlays besides the risk of allergic reactions to the materials helping make them. Onlays also require multiple appointments with the dentist, and the procedure is challenging to perform.
When Is an Onlay Preferable to a Crown?
If you have extensive damage to a natural tooth from decay or injuries and the tooth is challenging to fix, your dentist recommends crowns as an appropriate solution.
However, if the damage is not significant to need a crown and only affects the cusps, you will likely receive a recommendation for dental Onlays has the better option for fixing your tooth.
How Much Does an Onlay Cost?
Dental Onlays cost approximately $ 650-$ 1200 per tooth, depending on your dentist’s expertise, geographical location, and the complexity of your procedure. In addition, various factors determine the restoration costs depending on the tooth’s location, the extent of repairs needed, the need for other processes, and the materials used when making the restoration. Insurance coverage also matters because most providers cover part of the costs of crowns and Onlays.
How Long Does an Onlay Last?
Whether you receive crowns or Onlays fillings, you can expect the restoration to last for five to 15 years, although dentists don’t guarantee their lifespan. Factors like grinding your teeth, chewing sticky and hard foods, or injuries to the tooth or the surrounding area can impact the lifespan of dental Onlays. In addition, the factors mentioned can cause the onlay material to chip, break, or crack, needing replacement or repair.
If you have a tooth damaged or decayed and want to get it fixed, Smiles of Gilbert Dentistry provides crowns and dental Onlays for the restoration. Help yourself improve the tooth from an experienced dentist by arranging a meeting with this practice and receive the repair in a couple of visits.