Is a crown always needed for a damaged back tooth? Learn how inlays and onlays repair large cavities while saving more of your natural tooth.
When a back tooth has a large cavity, a broken cusp or an old failing filling, many people assume they need a crown. But there's often a more conservative option: an inlay or onlay.
What Are Inlays and Onlays?
They are custom-made restorations, usually in tooth-coloured ceramic or composite, that are bonded into or onto a damaged back tooth.
- Inlay: Fits within the grooves of the tooth, between the cusps
- Onlay: Covers one or more cusps as well, sometimes called a partial crown
How Are They Different from a Crown?
A crown covers the whole visible tooth, so the tooth must be trimmed on all sides. An onlay replaces only the damaged part, preserving more healthy natural tooth.
| Filling | Inlay/Onlay | Crown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth removed | Least | Moderate | Most |
| Strength for large damage | Lower | High | High |
| Visits | One | Usually two | Usually two |
When Is an Inlay or Onlay a Good Choice?
- The cavity is too large for a filling to last
- A cusp is cracked or broken
- Replacing an old, large silver filling
- Enough healthy tooth remains that a full crown isn't necessary
Benefits
- Saves more of your natural tooth
- Strong and long-lasting
- Natural, tooth-coloured appearance
- Precise fit that seals the tooth well
When Is a Crown Better?
If most of the tooth is broken, after many root canal treatments on back teeth, or when the tooth is badly cracked, a crown may still be the best protection. Your dentist will recommend the most conservative option that will last.
Related treatment: read more about Inlays & Onlays in Mohali at Urja Dental Clinic.
Book a Visit at Urja Dental Clinic, Mohali
If you have any of these concerns, book a consultation at Urja Dental Clinic, S.S.S. (Bay Shop) 74, Sector 60, Phase 3B2, Mohali. We are easy to reach from Phase 3B1, Phase 5, Phase 7, Kharar and Chandigarh. Call +91 86999 69619 or +91 78890 93147, or book online.
