Crowns vs. Inlays and Onlays
Davis, CA
If you do not take care of your teeth and skip your routine dental appointments, you may develop cavities that may not be fixed with a simple filling. At Davis Dental Practice, Our doctors and our doctors we can help you get the right restorative treatment for your damaged teeth, including inlays, onlays, and dental crowns. 
Partial crowns, Inlays and onlays, are types of indirect fillings that are used when the damage to your tooth is too extensive for a filling to repair but not so severe that it would require an endodontic surgery followed by a crown.
Difference Between Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed on a severely damaged tooth to protect it and restore its chewing abilities. We may recommend dental crowns for you if an infection and trauma has damaged the dental pulp of the tooth resulting in nerve death.
In this case, we will first perform a root canal surgery and then cover the weakened tooth with a crown that is custom-made in the lab to have the size and shape of your natural tooth. Depending on the location of the tooth and other factors, we may place a porcelain crown on your tooth, which is virtually indistinguishable from your teeth.
An inlay, on the other hand, is a customized dental filling that is fitted to the pits and fissures of your tooth. Inlays do not extend to the cusps of your teeth. These fillings may be fabricated from composite resin, porcelain, and metal and can bond strongly to your teeth, resulting in improved strength.
An onlay is similar to an inlay but it extends to the cusps of the tooth as well. Like inlays, onlays fit tightly to the tooth, increasing its strength.
Like crowns, both inlays and onlays are fabricated in a dental lab to offer your teeth a perfect fit. Inlays and onlays are also a more conservative form of dental treatment since you do not have to shave off as much tooth structure as is required by a crown.
On the other hand, a crown covers your tooth from top to bottom and is the strongest of all of these options.
What to Expect During a Crown, Inlay, or Onlay Placement Procedure
Whether you are getting a crown, an inlay, or an onlay, your procedure will typically be completed in two visits. The procedure is quite similar to how you get a crown; however, there are a few big differences.
Crowns are usually used after a root canal procedure. During this procedure, Our doctors and our doctors will make a small hole on the top of your tooth and remove the diseased pulp and infection from the tooth chamber. We will then fill the cavity with a mixture called gutta-percha and then seal your tooth to prevent reinfection.
Once the root canal is done, we will remove some tooth structure to accommodate the crown. A dental impression is taken and sent to a dental lab where a crown will be fabricated to fit the exact dimensions of your tooth.
On the other hand, inlays and onlays do not require root canal surgery. We will numb your tooth and remove the decay and debris from your tooth. As compared to a crown, very little tooth structure is removed. We will then take an impression of the tooth and send it to a dental lab to fabricate an inlay or onlay of your tooth.
Once the indirect filling has been created, you will visit us again so that we can bond it to your tooth.
Crowns, inlays, and onlays are very durable and strong dental prosthetics and do not require any special maintenance. However, you need to make sure you exercise good oral hygiene and come to us for your regular dental cleaning because your repaired teeth can still get re-infected.
To ensure your fillings and crown last a long time, schedule your routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays by calling us at (530) 756-5300.
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