Dental health is vital

Dental Restoration: Understanding the Common Alternatives to Crowns

by Felecia Butler

Dental crowns are useful for repairing damaged teeth and restoring the natural functionality and appearance. In simple terms, the product can be utilised in protecting teeth damaged by decay, holding together cracked teeth and even covering a dental implant after tooth extraction. Unfortunately, this procedure can be considerably expensive, and this presents a significant limitation for some patients. This can be attributed to the fact that the crown must be custom-made. In addition, more than one session might be required for the treatment. Therefore, if you would like to delay crown installation or prefer a different form of restoration, consider these alternatives.

Dental Onlays

A dental onlay is similar to a crown in terms of structure. Basically, this is a restorative structure which designed to cover the cusp of a damaged tooth. On the contrary, a dental crown covers the entire visible part of the tooth which is visible above the gum line. Onlays are ideal alternatives because they stabilise the upper part of the tooth while sparing the structure of your tooth. The simplest form of onlay to consider for your restoration is a resin dental product. This can be made using composite or ceramic, and it is favoured because it is easy to bond to the tooth. There are also metallic alternatives, though these are expensive and difficult to install.

Tooth Fillings

Dental filling is a feasible alternative to both crowns and onlays, as long as these are securely bonded to the tooth with special adhesives or stabilised with dental pins. When a filling is applied in place of a crown, the material is not simply used to seal the damage like in cavity treatment. Instead, the dental material is applied to the tooth structure to stabilise any fractures. In addition, the dentist will rebuild the damaged structure, creating the natural tooth contours. This treatment can restore the normal dental function and appearance for a long time. However, you will probably require a crown eventually, particularly if the filling fails.

Temporary Crowns

Temporary or provisional dental crowns are useful if you would like to delay the installation of the permanent type. In addition, they can be used if there are other procedures which must be performed on your other teeth before crown installation. This type of crown is semi-customised in the dental office. Basically, an impression of your affected tooth is taken, and special resin is used to create the provisional crown. The new structure is then trimmed, polished and cemented on the tooth. 

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