Porcelain Onlays

What Exactly Are Porcelain Onlays?

They’re similar to dental crown in that they’re a dental restoration to repair a broken tooth that a filling cannot fix.

If the fractured tooth has lost a lot of tooth structure, porcelain onlays could cover the chewing surface and strengthen it to prevent further fracture.

How they differ from crowns?

A dental crown covers the entire chewing surface and it wraps around the entire tooth.

Porcelain onlays use a more conservative approach than a dental crown; they cover only the weak parts of the tooth. The coverage won’t extend down to the gum line the way dental crowns do.

What are the pros of opting for porcelain onlays?

As mentioned earlier, they follow a conservative approach because they preserve your natural tooth structure. At Aloha Dental our dentists believe it’s best to leave the un-fractured area of the tooth alone.

Another advantage is that they do not cover the gum line which means that they won’t put your gums at risk of irritation. Also, because of that preservation, they’re less likely to cause tooth decay.

Lastly, they’re aesthetically pleasing because they’re made of porcelain. They look natural, the restoration procedure isn’t noticeable.

Are there cons to this treatment?

Porcelain onlays are ideal for preserving your tooth structure. Unfortunately, they require expertise for proper placement.

Dentists who offer this treatment had to undergo extensive training.

Our dentists at Aloha Dental have years of extensive experience and training in cosmetic dentistry and occlusion.

Another disadvantage of this procedure is that they’re not as durable as gold dental crowns. That said they’re more prone to breaking than other material options such as gold.

However, at Aloha Dental we only use new ceramics proven to be incredibly durable. Thus, we can minimize chances of breaking.

Difference between Inlays and Onlays

They’re both used to replace traditional dental fillings. That is, they can treat tooth decay. Unlike dental fillings, they’re fabricated in a dental lab before being bonded to your tooth.

Inlay restoration involves bonding the material in the center of a tooth. Onlay restoration on the other hand, includes one or more cusps of your tooth.

In some cases, dentists will include the full coverage of the chewing surface.

But both of them preserve your healthy tooth. They’re ideal for minimal to moderate tooth decay that affects the flossing area. These restoration options are also an ideal alternative to a full coverage dental crown.

Onlays and inlays also offer aesthetic longevity because they don’t discolor over time, unlike a tooth-colored resin filling. Apart from being aesthetically durable, they also guarantee functional longevity.

Choose the right dentist for your porcelain onlays. Schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Aloha Dental by calling: