When you suffer from a significant cavity or other type of damage, you will quickly learn that a filling cannot always swoop in and save the day. Instead – while we will still be able to help you with restorative care – you will require something that offers more extensive improvement to your tooth. In most instances, this means we will provide you with a dental crown, inlay, or onlay. Are you familiar with these treatment options? Find out by making your way through a brief quiz.

Crowns, Onlays, Inlays: True or False Quiz

1. True or False: If we decide to provide you with an onlay instead of a dental crown or other solution, this means that you will receive metal in your tooth.
2. True or False: An inlay is similar to an onlay but it replaces tissue from your roots.
3. True or False: We will typically attempt to repair your tooth damage with a filling, inlay, or onlay before moving on to the use of a dental crown.

Quiz Answers

1. False. If you cannot receive a filling for the problem but a dental crown is too comprehensive, we may suggest an onlay. An onlay is composed of lifelike material (such as porcelain), which can replace missing tissue – it is an indirect restoration that will restore a damaged cusp or tissue damaged along the side of your tooth.
2. False. An inlay is an indirect restoration just like an onlay. However, rather than replacing your missing or damage cusps or tissue along the side of your tooth, an inlay will restore tissue that lies between the cusps of your tooth.
3. True. Fillings, inlays, and onlays all restore the missing tissue area, so your tooth is whole again. However, a dental crown provides complete protection (even if you are only missing some of your tooth tissue), covering your entire tooth.