When people think of crowns, the type that covers the tooth completely (called full crowns) typically come to mind. However, there's another type of crown called onlays that offer quite a few benefits to patients as well. Here are three to consider when choosing which type of treatment may work best to solve your dental problems.
Minimal Tooth Contouring
One of the main benefits of an onlay is that it doesn't require the dentist to remove any of the enamel to install the appliance. Your tooth's enamel protects the soft center where the nerves lies, so removing even a little bit can result in issues such as painful tooth sensitivity.
Instead, these types of crowns are designed to supplement the existing tooth. Rather than completely covering the entire surface, the onlay acts as a filling that replaces the missing parts of the tooth and/or seals cracks and holes.
For instance, if the cusp (i.e., edge) of one of your molars broke off, the dentist would use an onlay to fill in the gap and reconstruct the tooth so that it's usable again. The only time the dentist would remove any of the tooth when using an onlay is if that part of the tooth is too damaged or diseased to use or if there are jagged edges that need to be smoothed out to avoid additional problems.
If you prefer the dentist leave your tooth intact as much as possible, then you may want to discuss getting an onlay.
Better Color Matching
Onlays come in a wide variety of shades—a bigger range than other types of crowns and even fillings—which makes it easier for the dentist to match the color of your other teeth, something that's important for ensuring your teeth maintain a uniform appearance. Additionally, like full crowns, onlays are resistant to staining and discoloration, so they'll look good for a long time. However, you still need to take care when consuming particular foods or engaging in certain types of habits (e.g., smoking) because the dental restoration will eventually become tarnished after enough exposure to them.
It's important to understand this because the color of onlays cannot be changed using any whitening product or technique. Because of this issue, you should have any teeth whitening done prior to the installation of an onlay, and have the onlay matched to the lighter shade. If you choose to match your current shade and whiten your teeth at a later date, the false tooth will look odd.
This is only a concern, though, if you're repairing teeth that will be seen when you smile. You can typically get away with mismatched shades with molars and other back teeth that aren't seen as much.
Increased Durability
Onlays are highly durable, capable of lasting 15 to 30 years when properly maintained. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, onlays are customized for the tooth they're repairing. In addition to allowing the onlay to get in spaces that usually can't be treated using traditional fillings, the customization makes it easier to keep the tooth clean and prevent bacteria from damaging the tooth.
Second, onlays are made from sturdy materials designed to provide structural support to the tooth and deal with tough chewing forces. For instance, onlays made from gold are extremely resistant to pressure, so you don't have to worry about breaking the dental appliance whenever you eat. Additionally, onlays will not expand or contract when subjected to temperature changes, so they won't eventually weaken as result like regular fillings do in the same situation.
To learn more about onlays and crowns, contact a company like AQ Denture and Dental Implant Center.
Share2 November 2018
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.