Crowns and Onlays

Crowns and onlays are lab-made protective coverings, usually made out of porcelain, that are fitted to the tooth to restore it to its natural form and function and give it some level of protection from fracture.

Crowns and onlays are also sometimes used to improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth.

The procedure for providing a crown or an onlay involves shaping the tooth in a particular way and then a mould or a scan is taken of the tooth. A temporary crown or onlay is then placed onto the tooth and this remains in place for around two weeks. You will then come back to see us have the temporary crown or onlay removed and the permanent crown or onlay fixed in.

This procedure usually takes two appointments. The first appointment is usually around an hour to an hour and a half. This is the appointment where the tooth will be shaped and a temporary crown or onlay provided. Around two weeks later you will need to return for another appointment for us to fit the crown or onlay . This appointment is usually 30 to 45 minutes long.

Generally speaking, a crown will cover the entirety of your tooth whilst an onlay tends to cover the whole top of the tooth and maybe a couple of sides. Onlays tend to be adhesively glued to the tooth and they allow us to provide a protective covering for your tooth while removing the least amount of tooth structure possible. Onlays tend to be safer and kinder to the tooth but they are far more technique sensitive to place.