3 Alternatives to Dental Crowns

Dental Crowns Layton, UT

Dental crowns are often costly and require that a dentist remove a significant amount of the tooth's structure to place them. Read on to learn about dental crown alternatives. Other treatment alternatives are sometimes available that are either less expensive or significantly less invasive. Dental crowns are frequently used to restore severely damaged teeth.

3 Alternative choices to dental crowns

The following are some dental crown alternatives that your dentist may suggest. They each have specific functions, so the choice comes down to the one that best fits the patient's needs:

1. Onlays

Instead of a crown, dentists can also use onlays to reinforce teeth. Onlays are like dental crowns because they offer some level of protection for the teeth but to a smaller degree. In contrast to an inlay, which does not protect any of a tooth's cusps, onlays only cover the surface of a tooth and one or two of its cusps. A full onlay occupies the whole top surface of the tooth. A partial onlay is one that only occupies a portion of the cusps.

Onlays have the advantage of requiring less tooth structure to be removed during placement. This lowers the risk of complications when the tooth is being prepared. Onlays also make it possible for patients to keep their gums healthy, as caps can make it harder to clean plaque around the tooth's base.

Compared to a dental crown, the only drawback to this option is that a prosthetic that covers the whole tooth is usually easier to keep in place. However, since dental cement has improved significantly over the years, there is less of a chance that this will happen.

2. Dental veneers

The dentist may decide to place a veneer instead of a crown, depending on the tooth's condition. Veneers are thin shells that protect the front of teeth and are typically used for aesthetic reasons. However, the dentist will determine the suitability of the veneer for the patient's teeth. A veneer may not offer the level of protection that a tooth requires, depending on the degree of the damage. On the other hand, veneers are a less intrusive way to improve the look of one's smile for those considering dental crowns for aesthetic reasons.

3. Dental filling

If the tooth has sustained such trauma that the dentist recommends a cap, a filling is not appropriate, but it is an option. For large cavities and other damage, crowns are preferable to fillings because fillings do not have the same degree of protection as crowns.

Fillings are more likely than crowns to crack, split, and fall out. They also do not perform as well as crowns, which entirely restore a tooth's structure. A dentist might use fillings to build up a tooth that has been badly damaged by a fracture or decay before covering it with a crown.

The bottom line

If you think you might benefit from dental crowns or the above-listed alternatives, contact our dental office today to book an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://woodlandparkdental.com or call Woodland Park Dental at (801) 416-1603 for an appointment in our Layton office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges in Layton, UT.

Related Posts

The Number Of Dental Visits For A Dental Crown

A dental crowns, also called a cap, forms the tooth's outer covering, protecting the tooth from decay and damage. A crown does not eliminate the need to visit your dentist in the future; you will still need to have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined regularly by your dentist. However, it can certainly help restore…

How A Damaged Tooth Is Prepared For A CEREC Crown

CEREC® can fix your damaged tooth. You should see your dentist right away if you have dental damage. Before the procedure begins, your tooth must go through some preparations. The dentist must make sure that your tooth is ready for the ceramic crown. Here are the details on how your dentist will prepare your damaged…

Choose CEREC Ceramic Crowns Over Other Traditional Crown Materials

CEREC® (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic) ceramic crowns are innovative restorations. Patients appreciate the many advantages of CEREC crowns over traditional crown materials. The technology of these restorations continues to bring bigger smiles in many communities. Choosing CEREC ceramic crowns is an easy decision. If you want to know why, here are the details.CEREC…

Replace Metal Fillings With CEREC Ceramic Fillings

Dental professionals traditionally fill cavities in the teeth with metal amalgams. CEREC® technology provides an excellent alternative to this traditional option in a same-day treatment, and many patients choose it to replace metal fillings.The state-of-the-art technology of Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics for treating tooth decay offers many benefits, as its name reveals:Chairside: The…