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If you’re dealing with the aftereffects or the damage of tooth decay, it is normal to wonder what the best way is to restore your tooth. With a little bit of scouring on the internet, you’d find one or three options, or better yet, all three: dental inlays, dental onlays, and crowns. These three options were designed to save the natural tooth while restoring its strength and beauty.
In this guide, we will cover what makes each restoration different. We will also go over what they do and figure out the best place for searching patients to install them.
What Are Dental Inlays, Onlays, and Crowns?
Inlays, onlays, and crowns are all types of dental restoration methods that are used when regular dental filling is not enough to cover or repair the damage to your tooth. They are specially made in the lab and are cemented to the tooth to restore its shape and strength.
A dentist will recommend this type of restoration when tooth decay or damage affects a significant part of the tooth, but it can still be saved.
To help with the perspective, the basic differences between each of the restorations is below.
| Dental Inlays | Dental Onlays | Dental Crowns |
| They fit inside the grooves of a tooth. | They cover the inner area plus one or more chewing cusps. | They cover the entire visible part of the tooth. |
| They do not cover the pointed chewing surfaces. | They are used when damage is more extensive than an inlay can manage. | They are used when most of the tooth structure is weakened. |
| They are used when damage is contained within the inner part of the tooth. | They are sometimes called partial crowns. | They are commonly used after large cavities, fractures, or root canal treatment. |
The similarities between each restoration are the materials used to make them. These materials could include composite resin or ceramic, and they are chosen for their strength or for how naturally they blend with the surrounding teeth.
Main Differences Between Inlays, Onlays, and Crowns.
While we covered some basic differences between them, inlays, onlays, and crowns differ in more ways than one. Let’s cover each of them.
How Much of the Tooth Is Covered
The biggest difference between each of these restorations is their coverage. An inlay covers and restores only the central part of the tooth. An onlay restores and covers the center plus part of the chewing surface. Meanwhile, a crown covers the whole region above the gum line that can be seen. The more the coverage, the more support is provided, but it also means the more the natural tooth structure is reshaped.
When Each Option Is Used
A restoration is chosen when your dentist considers the size of your cavity and how much healthy enamel you have left. In that case:
| An inlay or onlay is only used when: | A dental crown is chosen when: |
| Your tooth decay is too large for a regular filling. | Your tooth is severely weakened. |
| There is a strong tooth remaining to support the restoration. | There are large cracks or fractures present. |
| The goal is to keep as much of your natural tooth as possible. | A root canal has been performed. |
| The tooth needs full structural protection. |
Strength and Durability
All three options are durable when they are installed properly and cared for appropriately. Crowns offer the most coverage overall and are often used for those back teeth that handle heavy chewing. Onlays offer strong reinforcement while still preserving more of the natural tooth. Inlays are also strong, but they are best used when there is little internal damage rather than major tooth loss.
Aesthetic Results
Inlays, onlays, and crowns are designed to match the color and shine of our natural teeth. Since they are made with either ceramic or composite resin, their color are very easy to manipulate when they are being built.
Because they are custom-made, they often look more natural than large fillings, leading to a better Hollywood smile.
Procedure Differences
If you’re getting a dental restoration, prepare yourself for a two-pronged visit to the dentist’s office. The first visit is the preparation visit, and the second visit is the installation visit. The prep procedures for inlays and onlays are very similar, while that of crowns is a few steps longer. After that, the installation stage for every restoration is the same.
Here’s what you can expect when you get to your dentist’s:
| Stage | Inlays and Onlays | Crowns |
| Preparation Stage | Your tooth is cleaned to remove all signs of decay or damaged extras. | Your tooth is cleaned to remove all signs of decay or damaged extras. |
| An impression of your tooth or a digital scan is taken. | An impression of your tooth or a digital scan is taken for analysis. | |
| An analysis is performed, and your dentist might have to reshape your teeth for the crown. | ||
| A full coverage temporary restoration is placed over the prepared tooth. | ||
| Installation Stage | The restoration is made to fit your tooth precisely. | The lab creates the crown with the completed analysis to fit your tooth. |
| The restoration is bonded to the tooth with a strong seal. | Upon completion, the crown is bonded to your tooth and polished to rhyme with the surrounding teeth. |
Preserving Tooth Structure
A key principle in modern dentistry is dental conservation. Inlays preserve the most natural tooth. Onlays are a middle option because they take more space than inlays but nowhere near crowns. Crowns require the removal of more tooth structure, but they are a necessary choice when the tooth would be too weak to survive.
Deciding Between Inlay vs. Crown and Onlay vs. Crown
The decision to choose between an inlay, onlay, or crown for any individual is often an easy decision for their dentist. At least, that’s how it is for our experts in DentSpa Dental Clinic restorations. The decision is based on the individual’s cavity size, the presence of cracks, their bite forces, and the overall condition of their tooth. Our dentists will always aim to choose the least invasive option that still protects the tooth in the long term.
Other Tooth Restoration Alternatives
When you’re researching tooth restoration options, you may come across other dental procedures and mistake them for a solution to your condition. Some of the common alternatives dentists have reported about when speaking with their patients are:
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth, not a damaged one.
- Partial Dentures: Just because some teeth are flawed, some patients think partial dentures are an optimal solution. They are wrong. Partial dentures are supposed to be used when multiple teeth are missing.
- Dental Fillings: Dental fillings, especially amalgam fillings, are actually a very popular option for tooth restorations. Although the FDA and ADA vouch for their safety, there have been updated recommendations concerning their use cases for certain groups of people.
These procedures usually end up in patients’ discussions with dentists over the best ways to restore their teeth, even when they are not the best. Inlays, onlays, and crowns are the best ways to repair and strengthen teeth that are still present but structurally compromised.
Am I a Candidate For An Inlay, Onlay, or Crown?
Your dentist has to see one or more of three factors before he qualifies you as a candidate for inlays, onlays, or dental crowns. They are:
- A moderate to large case of treated tooth decay.
- A broken filling.
- A cracked tooth that can still be restored.
The final choice between any of the three options will now depend on the size of the remaining healthy tooth structure and where the affected tooth is located in the mouth.
You may need a crown rather than an inlay or onlay if most of a tooth is weakened or missing. Although only a clinical examination and digital imaging can accurately determine this.
Why Choose DentSpa Dental Clinic
Dental restorations such as inlays, onlays, and crowns are some of the best solutions in modern dentistry for large cavities. They are not just about covering your tooth; they are about retaining more of your natural tooth structure while restoring its strength.
So, how would you go about picking the right restoration for you? That’s what the experts at DentSpa Dental Clinic restorations in Turkey are here for. At DentSpa, our highly experienced oral surgeons use the latest equipment when offering the best solutions to each patient’s dental needs.
Our expertise and nurturing care for each patient have led to our gaining an award for the best dental clinic in Europe. So, is your tooth finally clear of decay, and are you considering where and how to fill out your cavities? Book a free consultation service with us at DentSpa, and you’ll have all the relevant information you need.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel for these treatments?
Yes, it is totally fine to travel for your dental care. In fact, many patients have said it was the right decision to get their dental treatments in other countries that support medicine. However, choosing an experienced clinic and making proper plans helps ensure your treatment is safe and successful.
Are these restorations stronger than fillings?
In a word, yes. For larger cavities, inlays, onlays, and crowns are more durable and provide better support than standard fillings.
Do inlays and onlays last as long as crowns?
They can last many years when properly bonded and maintained. Their longevity depends on your oral hygiene, diet, and bite forces.
Is an onlay better than a crown?
Not all the time. Onlays are a conservative restoration that is suitable when enough of the strong tooth remains. However, crowns are better when the tooth needs full coverage for protection.
What is the main difference between an inlay and a crown?
An inlay repairs the inner part of the tooth and keeps more of its natural structure intact. Meanwhile, a crown covers the entire visible teeth, and is used when the damage is extensive.
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