Crowns, Inlays and Onlays Dental Services
White Tooth Restorations
In some cases, tooth decay or damage is too extensive to be corrected with a composite resin filling. That’s why Dr. Henry offers larger tooth restorations made from durable porcelain materials to provide increased strength and durability for weakened teeth. Unlike fillings, all-ceramic inlays, onlays, and crowns are constructed from hard materials outside of the mouth and then bonded to the tooth. Precisely shaded to match your surrounding teeth perfectly, your porcelain restorations reflect light like natural tooth enamel, ensuring that onlookers will just notice your beautiful smile—not your dental work.
Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
Also called indirect fillings, inlays and onlays are placed in areas of moderate decay or tooth breakage. Inlays are placed in the depressions of the teeth, and onlays are placed on the cusps, or raised areas, of teeth. The first step of the inlay or onlay procedure is for Dr. Henry to remove any decay present, followed by taking a detailed impression of your teeth to be sent to a dental lab. After your hard porcelain restoration is constructed by a skilled dental ceramist, you will return for a second appointment, at which time Dr. Henry will bond the inlay or onlay to your tooth.
Gold Inlays and Onlays
Gold is the oldest dental material, and it is also the most durable. For exceptional comfort and durability, Dr. Henry can create inlays and onlays from gold, a service not offered by many dentists anymore. Gold restorations offer a lower recurrent decay rate, are kinder to the bite, and can last for a lifetime. Your Erlanger dentist is proud to still perform this lost art for restoring molars, and she charges the same rates for them as she does for porcelain inlays and onlays.
Lab-Made Crowns
An all-porcelain crown is a restoration that completely covers the portion of the tooth that shows above the gum line and is also known as a cap. Crowns are used when areas of decay or damage are too large to be covered with a composite resin filling or an inlay or onlay. To prepare your tooth for a crown, Dr. Henry will shape it so that the crown will bond ideally to the natural tooth structure. After preparing your tooth, your northern Kentucky general dentist will make an impression and send it to an esteemed dental lab, where your natural-looking crown will be handcrafted from the finest materials. Types of crowns used by Dr. Henry include all-ceramic, eMAX, metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and zirconia. You will wear a temporary crown until your permanent one is made. At your next appointment, Dr. Henry will cement the crown to your tooth, making sure that it fits perfectly and meets well with the opposing teeth.
One-Day CEREC Crowns
For patients who would rather not wear a temporary and wait for a lab-made permanent crown, Dr. Henry offers a single-day option for restoring teeth. CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is a type of restoration that can be constructed in one office visit by your Erlanger general dentist. After taking digital images of your teeth, Dr. Henry will employ CEREC’s CAD-CAM technology to create the specifications for your crown. Upon your dentist’s approval, the CEREC machine will mill a perfectly-fitting crown in the office while you wait. In about two hours from start to finish, you will leave our office with a durable crown that looks completely natural and matches your surrounding teeth perfectly.
For personalized general and cosmetic dental care in northern Kentucky, contact Dr. Darlene Henry today to schedule an appointment. Located in Erlanger, we serve patients from all surrounding areas, including Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.