What Are My Choices If I Don't Want a Crown?

Some patients just don't want crowns. They or someone they know may have had a bad experience or the may just not want to reduce their entire tooth to receive a crown. This is totally understandable. The good news is that there are very often alternatives to full crowns. These choices may include one type of inlay or onlay.

Inlays (or onlays) are basically laboratory fabricated restorations made of porcelain or a very hard resin, that can be used to replace missing tooth structure while saving as much of the natural tooth as possible. Onlays usually replace the cusps of teeth while inlays lie within the center of the tooth. For the most part, inlays and onlays for the lay person are basically the same.

These restorations are tooth colored and are typically bonded to the tooth restoring it back to normal function while at the same time strengthening it as well.

Years ago, and still being done today, many teeth were restored with gold inlays or onlays. These restorations, although done less and less, are excellent but have the cosmetic issues of gold metal display.

Inlays and onlays, where possible are great ways to restore teeth. The choice is up to your dentist as to whether inlays and/or onlays will be appropriate.