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How Your Dentist Decides if You Need an Inlay, Onlay, or Crown

August 5, 2016 ADManage

Your cosmetic dentist serving Park Ridge may specialize in all kinds of treatments, from dental bridges to porcelain veneers. Every dental health problem has a corresponding solution, and it’s your dentist’s job to decide which procedure is right for your situation. Dental inlays, onlays, and crowns are all similar treatments, but there are different circumstances that make each one the ideal option. Feel free to continue

reading if you are wondering how your dentist decides if you need an inlay, onlay, or crown.

Consultation and Examination

Before your dentist can make an informed decision about what type of procedure will be best for your needs, he or she needs to understand your particular situation. This is why every possible dental treatment starts with an initial consultation. During this time you will talk to your dentist and discuss your symptoms, and your dental health professional will take a look at your teeth and gums. Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is an essential aspect of dental health; without your routine checkups, your dentist will have no idea what type of treatment will solve your problems.

Extent of Decay

Dental inlays, onlays, and crowns are all relatively common procedures. When your dentist looks at your mouth to determine which treatment would be most appropriate, he or she will consider the amount of decay that has occurred. If there has been some decay on the chewing surface of your tooth but the majority of it remains intact, an onlay might be the best choice. If there is a substantial amount of decay throughout the tooth, your dentist might decide that a dental inlay will be a more appropriate treatment.

Use of an Implant

If you have experienced a great deal of tooth decay to the point where most of your tooth has deteriorated, your dentist might suggest a dental crown. In the event that your original tooth cannot be salvaged and must be pulled, you might receive a dental implant; in this case your dental professional will cap the dental implant with a dental crown to fully restore your tooth.