Why partial restorations can sometimes be the better choice and the advantages they provide over crowns?
Modern dentistry offers various ways to repair damaged or decayed teeth. One of the most common approaches is the placement of a crown. However, an increasing number of practitioners are opting for partial restorations such as inlays, onlays, and veneers to provide their patients with a durable solution that can last for up to 15 to 20 years. Later on, there is often still the option to fit a crown if needed. In this blog post, we explain why partial restorations sometimes present the better choice and what advantages they can offer over crowns.
Our patients’ challenges are changing
Patients today face different challenges than they did a few years ago. Despite advances in preventive oral care, cavities still occur, causing irreversible loss of tooth structure. Additionally, we are increasingly observing stress fractures and erosion due to chemical influences, such as the consumption of acidic foods and beverages or the use of certain medications. We also see tooth wear, or attrition, orginiating from mechanical forces such as bruxism. Foreign objects can also cause damage.
How long should restorations last?
When providing dental treatment, we should consider: How can we best restore lost tooth structure? How long should restorations last? What can patients afford given their current situation? How many additional procedures can they undergo? Life expectancy increases, so does the number of natural teeth retained into old age. People’s dentitions need to function effectively for a longer time, even at age 80 or 90.
Minimally invasive treatment
Any dental intervention should generally be as minimally invasive as possible and as invasive as necessary to prevent the recurrence of cavities and abrasion. In each case, we need to determine whether partial restorations such as inlays and onlays are suitable or if a crown is absolutely necessary. Partial restorations as inlays and onlays offer excellent esthetic outcomes. They can be designed to match the shade and shape of natural teeth with precision. Modern materials meet these requirements with ease. Is there still a need for full-coverage crowns? Yes, definitely. However, by considering the occlusion and utilizing advanced techniques, we can create partial restorations that last for a long time. What is important is that the restorations remain fracture-free, bacterial adherence is minimized, recurrent caries is prevented and the occlusal scheme is retained.
Advantages of onlay/inlay
Onlays are a valuable option in restorative dentistry because they help preserve the remaining healthy tooth structure. While crowns, which cover the entire tooth, are excellent solutions, they are not very conservative. The amount of tooth structure that needs to be removed for a crown is significant – ranging from approx. 67.5 to 75.6% — compared to only 5.5 to 27.2% for inlays and onlays[1]. The goal should always be to preserve as much of the healthy tooth as possible.