Crowns & Onlays

What if my tooth is too damaged to hold a filling?

CROWNS and ONLAYS:  When a tooth is mechanically compromised (broken, worn or partially destroyed by tooth decay) and there isn’t enough tooth strength to hold a filling it requires something known as a crown. Crowns also help when a tooth is at risk for a fracture. A ceramic tooth, designed and colored to fit in with the teeth around it, may replace the damaged tooth. Crowns are cemented onto the existing tooth and fully cover the tooth above the gum line. An Onlay, that just covers the biting surface, may also be a possibility if the tooth is not as damaged.