Virginia beach Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry Blog - Dr. Michael Folck

Both porcelain crowns and porcelain inlays and onlays are used to preserve a tooth damaged by decay. As a solution for protecting your natural teeth, both options offer restored functionality and the ability to be matched in color and shape to your adjacent teeth. Which option is best for you will rely on both the location and the extent of the decay.

Dental Inlays and Porcelain Crowns
Dental inlays are often used to replace fillings and provide a permanent solution for cavities on the top of a tooth. A dental inlay is cemented into place, providing both increased structural support and preventing the filling from becoming loose and falling out. Made of porcelain, inlays are matched in color to your natural teeth, making them undetectable and aesthetically pleasing.

A dental onlay is similar to an inlay, but while an inlay sits between the cusps (raised parts) of your tooth, an onlay can go up and over the cusps. An onlay can provide strength to a damaged tooth, but if the structural integrity is seriously compromised, a crown may be necessary.

Dental crowns are used to restore teeth that are seriously weakened by decay and also teeth that are chipped and cracked. Crowns are placed over the top of your natural tooth, providing a permanent seal against further decay and restoring strength to your bite. Like inlays, crowns are made with porcelain and provide a seamless appearance.

Dr. Folck will work closely with you to provide you with the solution best suited to meet your needs. Neither crowns nor inlays are a superior solution; they are just designed to correct different problems. Offering a range of aesthetic and functional solutions, Dr. Folck can restore your bite to its most beautiful and powerful state.

If you live in or around Portsmouth, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, or Virginia Beach, Virginia and are looking for a solution to strengthen and enhance your smile, please contact Michael P. Folck DDS to schedule an initial consultation.