What are partial crowns?

Everyone’s heard of dental crowns in Surrey. It’s a type of tooth restoration, made of ceramic, porcelain or gold, that fits entirely over a damaged tooth to provide strength and protection. But for times when damage isn’t that extensive, there’s another option–a partial crown.

A partial crown protects a tooth in the same manner. But it’s used at times when there’s still a lot of healthy, natural  tooth left so a full crown isn’t necessary. Like in cases where a cavity has grown too big for a filling. A partial crown is the next step. Think of it as a filling upgrade.

Types of partial crowns

• Inlay
• Onlay

There are two types of partial crowns, an inlay, and an onlay. Each addresses what part of the tooth they’re protecting. 

For example, an inlay covers the middle section of the biting surface–where a lot of us have gotten cavities. It’s the best choice when there’s lots of healthy tooth all around but the centre needs shoring-up. 

An onlay covers damaged cusps of a tooth (the high points around the outside). Sometimes an onlay will cover the whole top biting surface, which is still less than a full crown which covers the entire tooth.

Why bother with a partial crown and not just cover the whole tooth? Because preserving as much of the natural tooth is always optimal. Partial crowns were created to do this. When someone gets a full crown, it’s because their tooth is too damaged to function properly. What is left is ground down to the right shape in preparation for a full crown.

Partial dental crowns in Surrey are cheaper than full crowns, and don’t generally involve as much preparation. If you have a damaged tooth, through decay, cracking, or a root canal, for instance, check with your dentist to see if a partial crown is the best option.

Call Riverside Heights Dental for more information on partial crowns for your teeth. Our dentist office is located near the Guildford mall in North Surrey. 604-584-2535