Crowns and onlays

A dental crown or onlay fits over the remaining part of a tooth, helping to strengthen it and making it function like a natural tooth once more. They can be made from a variety of materials ranging from all metal to white materials such as ceramics or composite and these can be discussed with your dentist. However please be aware not all materials are available on the NHS.

There are several reasons why we may recommend them. Your tooth may be very decayed and not strong enough to be filled any more, the top part of the tooth may have been accidentally damaged, or you may need one following root canal treatment. Crowns are also sometimes needed to help support a dental bridge.

We will usually need to prepare your tooth first, sometimes this is very minimal, and we will usually numb the tooth and the surrounding area with local anaesthetic first. The next stage is to take an impression, or mould, of the area around your tooth. This will be used by a skilled dental technician, who will craft your crown or onlay so that it is a perfect fit.

For the couple of weeks while the crown is being made, you will be fitted with either a temporary crown or filling. Once your new crown or onlay is ready, we will fit it and bond it in place with a special dental cement.

Please get in touch if you would like more information or to book an appointment.