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21116 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite B-7 Maricopa, AZ 85239 phone: 520.568.1551, fax: 520.568.0443 www.truegrin.com |
Dental Topics |
Crowns/Inlays/OnlaysIf you need more involved treatment that still looks natural, we may recommend a crown, inlay or onlay. A crown covers the entire tooth to strengthen and improve its appearance and is typically used when a tooth’s damage is beyond the scope of more conservative esthetic procedures mentioned earlier. However, if enough healthy tooth structure remains, we may conserve what’s left and restore the tooth to a natural appearance with an inlay, which fits within the contours of a tooth, or an onlay, which is similar but also covers some of the chewing surface of a tooth. Crowns, inlays and onlays are typically fabricated from an alloy, a combination of metals. Alloys may contain precious metals such as gold and palladium, or non-precious metals such as nickel or chromium. In either case, they are extremely durable, with many crowns lasting 20 years or more. Crowns also can be made entirely of porcelain, or made with metal lining to which an outer layer of porcelain is fused. Crowns made entirely of ceramic also are available today, but questions remain about their durability and strength when subjected to the intense chewing pressures generated when we eat. The best advice is to consult your dentist at Maricopa Fiesta Dental Care if you are interested in a ceramic restoration, particularly for back teeth. |
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