Why might a tooth benefit from a Crown/Onlay?
Our teeth are, in many ways, a marvel of nature. From the moment they erupt, they endure our chewing forces, acid exposure, and temperature fluctuations multiple times a day, and for those of us who grind our teeth- even the night!
So, what should we do when things break down? For smaller cavities or fractures in less load bearing regions, a filling can often offer a quick and durable restorative option.
The periphery of natural tooth around the amalgam restoration has fractured whilst eating, leaving little remaining tooth to restore.
However, for larger cavities, fractures, or teeth that have undergone Root Canal Treatment, the remaining tooth structure could be undermined or weakened- risking further fractures.
In such cases, stronger restorations made under high heat and pressures in by specialist laboratory dental technicians & then fitted by ourselves can be crafted specially for each tooth to give more reliable and longer-term protection- extending the lifetime of our teeth.
Determining the appropriate timing for selecting a crown over a filling is crucial. The less tooth structure remaining to support the crown, the higher the risk of failure.
By employing advanced high magnification techniques and ultra-high-resolution imaging, we can detect fractures at an early stage and monitor the natural wear and tear of teeth. This proactive approach greatly enhances our ability to extend the lifespan of our patients’ natural teeth through appropriate treatment options.
What is a Crown/Onlay?
Crowns are created in a furnace through the use of intense heat and pressure, which improves the strength and durability of the material. They are then usually cemented onto the natural remaining tooth by your dentist, encasing it in a hard protective layer.
For ceramic veneers, the same approach is taken, the added benefit being they don’t tend to react to our food and diet and so are unlikely to ever stain upon the surface of the material or tarnish intrinsically in the same way composite bonding does.
If a crown is partially restoring some surfaces of a tooth its is generally termed an Onlay- if the entire tooth is encompassed, it’s termed a crown. Different materials can be chosen to provide ideal solutions for each problem. for example, gold can be dented and is renowned for its non-reactivity, making it resistant to most foods and acids we consume, as well as robust enough to take the blows of a harder diet.
Click the buttons below to see examples.
What is a Bridge?
Where a tooth or teeth have been lost, a bridge can effectively replace the missing teeth by utilising the natural adjacent tooth or teeth for support. This results in an artificial floating tooth that blends seamlessly with your smile.
Various designs for bridges exist, as illustrated in the accompanying video.
With implants offering an excellent and reliable alternative that completely avoids the drilling of adjacent natural teeth, bridges are now generally regarded as a last resort option for tooth replacement.
For more information on implants, click the button below.