Teeth damaged too much for a filling will need a crown, inlay or onlay.

When a tooth has been damaged too much for a filling, our Evanston dentists will recommend a larger restoration: an onlay, inlay, or crown. The type of restoration depends on how much of the tooth structure is damaged and how much natural tooth structure is remaining.

As our Evanston dentists practice minimally invasive dentistry, they prefer to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Through advances in dental technology, we are able to provide CEREC^® restorations using e.max^® blocks which are very similar to your tooth enamel.

CEREC Crowns, Inlays & Onlays

At our Evanston dental office, your teeth and gums are scanned to create a digital impression. Our Evanston dentists then design the restoration using CAD/CAM technology. Combining the digital impressions and the CAD/CAM design process allows our Evanston dentists to create restorations that fit seamlessly on your tooth.

Once the restoration is designed, our CEREC milling machine will mill your restoration out of a single e.max block. In the past porcelain restorations were created by layering porcelain. Using a single block to create the restoration creates a stronger restoration.

Learn more about what to expect from a CEREC restoration by visiting our blog.

Crowns

A dental crown restoration covers your entire tooth. Crowns are recommended when ¾ of your tooth enamel has been damaged due to decay, fracture, or repeat restorations.

Inlays

Restorations that fit into the grooves of your tooth. Inlays can be 2, 3, or 4 surface restorations. Inlays also allow you to retain more tooth structure than a crown.

Onlays

Restorations that cover the cusps of your tooth. Onlays can be 2, 3, or 4 surface restorations. Onlays allow you to retain more natural tooth structure than a crown.