Crown, inlay/onlay, bridge or removable denture: what each option is for, with diagrams. At Cabinet Dentaire du Bourg, Savigny-le-Temple.
The crown
It covers and protects a badly damaged or root-treated tooth. It can also be fitted on an implant.
1/4The tooth is badly damaged or weakenedTop view: large decay2/4It is prepared to receive the crownThe tooth is evenly reduced all around3/4A custom-made ceramic crown is producedThe crown reproduces the cusps and grooves4/4The crown is fitted: the tooth is protectedIt covers the whole tooth
Inlays and onlays
A custom-made ceramic piece bonded to the tooth to rebuild the missing part of a damaged tooth. Only the affected area is removed, so it preserves more of the tooth than a crown.
1/4Part of the tooth is damagedTop view: one cusp is affected2/4Only the affected part is removed: the rest of the tooth is preservedOnly the damaged part is removed3/4A custom-made ceramic piece is producedThe piece is made to the exact shape of the preparation4/4It is bonded and rebuilds the toothIt is bonded: the tooth gets its shape back
1/4In section: the cusps and the central grooveA lower first molar seen from above: five cusps and their grooves2/4The inlay sits inside the tooth, between the cuspsInlay: the piece replaces the inside of the tooth without covering the cusps3/4The onlay also replaces the damaged cuspOnlay: it also covers one or more weakened cusps4/4The crown covers the whole visible part of the toothCrown: the whole tooth is covered, when it is too damaged for a partial restoration
The bridge
It replaces one or two missing teeth by resting on the neighbouring teeth, which must be prepared. It is fixed.
1/4A tooth is missing2/4The two neighbouring teeth are prepared3/4The ceramic bridge is made in one piece4/4It is fixed on the neighbouring teeth and replaces the missing tooth
Removable dentures
Partial or complete, it replaces several teeth and is taken out for cleaning. It can be stabilised with implants.
1/4Top view of the upper jaw: several teeth are missing2/4The denture is custom-made: a plate resting on the palate, with teeth and clasps3/4Once in place, it rests on the palate and gums, and the clasps hold it on the neighbouring teeth4/4It is taken out to be cleaned every day