Dental Crowns & Onlays
A crown is a dental restoration used to repair the shape and function of a broken-down tooth. When a tooth has a large filling or is severely worn, it becomes much weaker and more susceptible to cracks and fracture. The crown covers the entire tooth, allowing it to protect the underlying weakened tooth structure from further damage.
An onlay is a dental restoration used to repair the shape and function of a moderately broken-down tooth. It covers just the biting surface of a tooth, rather than encircling the entire tooth like a crown. Therefore, it preserves tooth structure, while protecting the cusps (the part of a tooth most susceptible to fracture). It is commonly used after root canal treatment to protect the tooth from cuspal fracture.