When a tooth is cracked, fractured, decaying, or excessively worn down, then a dental crowncan often be prescribed to restore and protect the tooth. Sometimes, however, a dental crown may be too much; crowns are made to completely cover a tooth’s visible portion, but your tooth may not be sufficiently damaged to warrant such extensive restoration. In that case, you might benefit more from an inlay or onlay, which are often referred to as partial crowns.
Dental Crowns vs. Inlays & Onlays
The point of a dental restoration, like a crown, is to repair the damage done to a tooth’s structure while saving the healthy, solid structure that remains. Dental crowns achieve this by completely capping the tooth in question, protecting it from the pressures of biting and chewing. However, for teeth with mild to moderate damage, placing a crown can mean reshaping more healthy tooth structure than is necessary to accommodate the restoration.
Instead, a dental inlay or onlay can be placed to restore just the damaged section of the tooth. Both are made from the same lifelike materials as dental crowns, such as porcelain. Inlays are designed to rest within the grooves of a tooth’s chewing surface, while onlays can extend over the side of the tooth, as well. A thorough examination can help determine if an inlay or onlay may be better option for you than a dental crown.
Inlays & Onlays Cost
The costs of your Inlays & Onlays may be covered by your dental insurance plan or extended dental coverage. If you are looking for more information about a specific service and the costs associated, contact one of our representatives for help. Our treatment coordinators can help you come up with an affordable way for you to pay for the oral health services you need. For more savings visit our specials page, sign up for our informational newsletter below, and like our Facebook page.
Treatment Payment Method
Don’t worry if you have reached the maximum cap with your insurance provider for the year or do not otherwise have coverage to pay for your dental treatment, there are other options available.
We offer a convenient list of options for making payment arrangements, and we work hard to make many third-party lenders and other types of credit programs available for our patients.
