Crowns & Onlays
A crown or an onlay is a re-construction of some or all of the walls of the tooth to make it functional and healthy again. It is needed when 50 percent or more of the tooth is broken or filled.
Traditionally they are made from gold or metal and porcelain. At Laser LifeCARE Institute, we design most of our crowns out of pure porcelain (CEREC 3D or zirconia), as it’s the most bio-compatible and aesthetic material available. It looks, feels and is as strong as a real tooth. We use gold sparingly in situations where porcelain may not work, as it’s still very bio-compatible and strong. We avoid using any other metal that may look unsightly and is less bio-compatible.
Experience tells us that with time any tooth that is heavily filled is at high risk for breaking. Amalgam or composite fillings are not the best solution when less than 50 percent of the tooth is left. An onlay is the most conservative type of crown where as much of your existing tooth structure is kept intact and the porcelain onlay is designed around it. It is more complex (for the dentist) to prepare, manufacture and bond than a full crown, but it is the more minimally invasive option for you. We only do crowns when there are no walls of tooth left intact.
