Reconstruction of Molar
by Dot
reply by Shelly ~ admin Hi Dot, I wish I could give you one of my long winded replys but I'm really not sure what that means:) I have never heard that term, but here are a couple possibilities... Sometimes teeth need to have a procedure called a build-up before having a crown placed. If there is not enough tooth structure to support a crown, a build up is done. That may be what your dentist is referring to. But a build up is not done instead of a crown. It is done in addition to a crown. The only other possibility I can think of is an onlay. An onlay like a crown is made out of ceramic, porcelain or gold and is cemented to your tooth. An onlay preserves more of your tooth and is a good choice for some situations. Because they allow more of your tooth to be preserved they are a better and more conservative choice when possible. Sometimes there is not enough healthy tooth structure to support an onlay. In these cases, a crown is better. I have gold and ceramic onlays in my mouth and love them. They are nice and smooth, have fewer margins, and are easier to floss than crowns. Onlays or crowns can be made in one visit if your dentist uses a computerized system called Cerec or by a dental lab that would require two visits. You should never hesitate to ask your dentist to explain. It is important for you to fully understand what is being recommended, how much it costs, how much will your dental insurance plan will pay for, and if there is another alternative. Good luck, ~Shelly~ |
