Dental crowns are often costly and require that a dentist remove a significant amount of the tooth's structure to place them. Read on to learn about dental crown alternatives. Other treatment alternatives are sometimes available that are either less expensive or significantly less invasive. Dental crowns are frequently used to restore severely damaged teeth.
The following are some dental crown alternatives that your dentist may suggest. They each have specific functions, so the choice comes down to the one that best fits the patient's needs:
Instead of a crown, dentists can also use onlays to reinforce teeth. Onlays are like dental crowns because they offer some level of protection for the teeth but to a smaller degree. In contrast to an inlay, which does not protect any of a tooth's cusps, onlays only cover the surface of a tooth and one or two of its cusps. A full onlay occupies the whole top surface of the tooth. A partial onlay is one that only occupies a portion of the cusps.
Onlays have the advantage of requiring less tooth structure to be removed during placement. This lowers the risk of complications when the tooth is being prepared. Onlays also make it possible for patients to keep their gums healthy, as caps can make it harder to clean plaque around the tooth's base.
Compared to a dental crown, the only drawback to this option is that a prosthetic that covers the whole tooth is usually easier to keep in place. However, since dental cement has improved significantly over the years, there is less of a chance that this will happen.
The dentist may decide to place a veneer instead of a crown, depending on the tooth's condition. Veneers are thin shells that protect the front of teeth and are typically used for aesthetic reasons. However, the dentist will determine the suitability of the veneer for the patient's teeth. A veneer may not offer the level of protection that a tooth requires, depending on the degree of the damage. On the other hand, veneers are a less intrusive way to improve the look of one's smile for those considering dental crowns for aesthetic reasons.
If the tooth has sustained such trauma that the dentist recommends a cap, a filling is not appropriate, but it is an option. For large cavities and other damage, crowns are preferable to fillings because fillings do not have the same degree of protection as crowns.
Fillings are more likely than crowns to crack, split, and fall out. They also do not perform as well as crowns, which entirely restore a tooth's structure. A dentist might use fillings to build up a tooth that has been badly damaged by a fracture or decay before covering it with a crown.
If you think you might benefit from dental crowns or the above-listed alternatives, contact our dental office today to book an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://www.encinodentalassociates.com or call Encino Cosmetic & Dental Implants at (818) 578-2333 for an appointment in our Encino office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges in Encino, CA.
Teeth that are severely decayed or fractured may benefit from dental crowns, which cover the damaged portions of the teeth, protecting them and restoring their functionality. A dental crown is crafted to fit the remaining portion of the tooth exactly and permanently bond to it. However, crowns are not perfect, and while they are usually…
A dental crown is often used to treat dental cavities, especially when the cavity is too large or too deep for a dentist to repair with a dental filling. This review provides a detailed look at when a dental crown is needed to repair a tooth that has a cavity and how a dental crown…
A traditional crown is often placed on a damaged or troubled tooth throughout two dental visits, but a CEREC® crown can be placed in one day. The acronym CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic, and these restorations provide a protective cap over a tooth the same way traditional crowns do. However, the…
Have you ever wondered what a dental crown restoration is? It is one option for repairing your teeth if you have a cracked or broken tooth or if your tooth has extensive wear and tear. A crown is made from porcelain and metal alloy, which makes them very strong and durable. This is a common…