Crowns, Overlays, Onlays & Inlays
Learn more about conservative alternatives to full-coverage crowns
Why aren’t crowns conservative?
Dental crowns are not considered conservative because they remove healthy tooth structure that is necessary for the tooth to function naturally. All dental crowns require the tooth to be cut to a similar shape, called a ferrule. This one-size-fits-all approach removes essential tooth structure at the base of your tooth that naturally withstands the forces of chewing. Without this bottom portion of the tooth, also known as the biorim, your tooth is more susceptible to cracks, which could lead to root canal therapy or extraction in the future.
Biomimetic inlays treat the crack while conserving essential tooth structure.
Traditional crowns cut away the same amount of tooth structure, regardless of pathologies.
Dental Inlays, Onlays & Overlays
Conservative crown and filling alternatives
Inlay
Inlays are smallest and most similar to a large filling. These restorations lay between the natural cusps of your teeth.
Onlay
Onlays will replace one, two or three of your tooth’s cusps, offering flexible restoration options for decay and cracks.
Overlay
Overlays fully cover the base of a restoration while still conserving the biorim, your tooth’s natural defense against cracks.
These photos show a dental onlay before and after cementation. Next, the tooth will be polished for a smooth, natural appearance. Case by Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD.
The Seal is the Deal
Question: If conservative dentistry is this easy, why isn’t every dentist doing it?
Answer: It’s not.
Advanced bonding protocols: At Alleman Dental we only use a proprietary restorative system created by Dr. David Alleman, DDS called the Six Lessons Approach. He distilled research from the past 40 years to find the best techniques for bonding to a natural tooth.
Gold standard bonding systems: Mimicking a natural tooth offers the best longterm restorative results because your natural tooth and the restorative material function as a cohesive unit. To achieve this natural function, we only use gold standard bonding systems and restorative materials that mimc natural dentin and enamel as demonstrated through 10+ year peer-reviewed trials.
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