Porcelain Crowns

Compared to fillings which just cover a small portion of a tooth, a crown (or cap) encases the entire visible portion of a tooth. In effect, the crown acts as the tooth's new outer surface. A dental crown is used when a tooth is broken or decayed to such an extent that fillings aren't able to repair the problem. The crown is able to provide a protective shell around the damaged or decayed tooth to strengthen it, as well as to improve the appearance of the tooth. They can also help restore a tooth to it's original shape, are used commonly for teeth that have been broken. While crowns come in different materials, the most common crowns typically have some mixture of porcelain in them to give them a look and feel similar to a natural tooth.

How it's done
The first visit to your dentist involves reshaping the tooth and taking impressions to create the crown. Typically a portion of you tooth will have to be removed for the crown to fit properly. After the dentist reshapes your tooth, they will use their equipment to create a digital impression to be sent to the lab for the fabrication of the crown. Before sending you home, the dentist will provide you with a temporary crown to cover your tooth in between visits.

When you return to you dentist, they will have received the permanent crown from the laboratory. They will remove the temporary crown and fit the new permanent one. Before cementing the permanent crown in place, they will ensure that it fits properly with an x-ray image taken and that it matches the color of your teeth.

Dental Inlays and Onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are a more conservative approach to tooth restoration than full crowns. The are used to repair rear teeth that have mild to moderate tooth decay, or for cracked teeth where the damage does not warrant a dental crown. Porcelain, composite resin and sometimes gold are used to create inlays and onlays. Inlays refer to those procedures where the bonded material limited to the center of the tooth, while onlays refer to those procedures where the bonded material can extend further to one or more cusps of the tooth.

What are the benefits of inlays and onlays?

• Natural look: Inlays and onlays have a natural tooth color that makes them virtually invisible compared to metal fillings.

• Great fit: Inlays and onlays will not expand or contract based on temperature like metal fillings.

• ​Longevity: Inlays and onlays can last up to thirty years, longer than any other type of filling.

• ​Minimal tooth structure removed: Inlays and onlays require the minimal removal of a tooth’s surface, helping to preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas.

How it’s done
Typically, two visits are required for the placements of inlays and onlays. In the first visit, your dentist will take a digital impression of your tooth, which will be sent to a lab to create the permanent inlay or onlay. Before you leave, they will fit your tooth with a temporary inlay / onlay to keep the tooth protected between visits. During your second visit, the dentist will remove the temporary protective material and fit your tooth with the permanent inlay or onlay received from the lab.​ An x-ray image will be taken to ensure the restoration has a proper fit.