Unbiased oral health information

Procedures

Onlays

Advantages & benefits

The following are advantages or intended benefits of this procedure. Some of them may not apply in individual circumstances.

  • Since they are made in a laboratory and not your mouth, it is easier to rebuild the ideal contours of the natural tooth than it is with large fillings.
  • Onlays and crowns can prevent cracks from spreading through a tooth.
  • Porcelain onlays and crowns can restore the tooth to its natural contour, function, and appearance.
  • Metal onlays and crowns will not generally chip, and provide the tooth with a surface that is durable.
  • Onlays have the advantage over crowns of leaving more natural tooth structure intact. This makes the tooth stronger, and may produce less pulpal inflammation than a more aggressive tooth preparation (like that needed for a crown) would.