Dental Onlay Restorations
An onlay restoration is an ideal way to restore a decayed or broken down tooth.
Onlay restorations have a special shape that protects the tooth from further damage, whilst leaving the healthy un-weakened parts of the tooth intact.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Onaly Restorations from clients of Shields Dental & Implant Clinic Limerick.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The tooth may have been weakened by having a very large filling, or extensive decay that has extended under one of the cusps (points);
- You may have a root filling that requires an onlay to protect it; or
- You may have a large mercury amalgam filling that you would like to remove to improve the appearance of the tooth.
A crown is a more involved procedure than an onlay. A crown is a porcelain cap that the dentist fits over a tooth.
First, they remove the old filling and any decay. Then, they have to remove even more of the tooth (the healthy part) so the crown fits on top.
With porcelain onlays, you have a solution that puts off needing a crown.
If you have a dental onlay installed to replace a broken cusp, you’ll get many years of use out of it. When it has finally been ground down, then a crown is a good way to restore the tooth the second time.
