Laboratory inlays or crowns are part of the family of fixed partial dentures, which can be represented as a kind of partial or complete cap that is cemented over a natural tooth.

Laboratory inlays or crowns can be manufactured in a variety of materials:

• Conventional porcelain;
• Reinforced porcelain (EMAX);
• Zircon or zirconia oxide (white metal);
• Gold.

• Reinforce a tooth after root canal treatment;
• Protect a tooth weakened by cavities;
• Reinforce a broken, cracked, cracked or fractured tooth;
• Cover a deformed, discoloured, devitalized tooth;
• Serve as a pillar for a bridge;
• Improve the appearance of the smile;
• Restore height to heavily worn teeth.

• Aesthetics (for all materials except gold, still popular in some countries);
• Resistant and solid. Dental ceramics (conventional and EMAX) are the materials that most closely resemble the natural enamel of the tooth in fresh hardness. Zircon is harder, while gold is softer, but still very resistant to fracture;
• Biocompatible. Ceramics are materials in harmony with the body;
• Durable;
• Fixed: they are permanently glued (cemented) in the mouth, unlike removable prostheses, such as full or partial dentures (acrylic or with metal structure).

• Expensive, compared to other dental materials such as amalgam and composite resin, but it should not be forgotten that the indications for these materials are different;
• Irreversible, because the damaged tooth must be prepared to reduce its size to create space for the crown.

• Dental fracture;
• Risk of having to have root canal treatment if the fracture or cavity reaches the vital part of the tooth;
• Loss of the tooth if the fracture is too deep.

• First appointment:
  • Local anesthesia;
  • Preparation of the tooth;
  • Optical or conventional impression;
  • Temporary acrylic crown.
• Waiting time of about 7 to 10 working days depending on the laboratory chosen.
• Second appointment:
  • Removal of the temporary crown;
  • Cementing of the final crown.

• Varies according to the type of material used.

• Dental inlays or crowns require the same maintenance as natural teeth, including regular brushing (2 to 3 times a day), flossing and routine visits to your oral health professional (twice a year).

• Inadequate oral hygiene;
• Painful tooth, irritated vital part;
• Failure of a root canal treatment present with or without abscess;
• Bruxism or clenching of teeth not treated by a protective device;
• Insufficient space;
• Tooth too damaged or broken too deep under the gum;
• Tooth too decayed;
• Tooth with too much loss of support bone.

• Composite or porcelain veneer;
• CEREC type crown or inlay;
• Composite restoration;
• Amalgam restoration.

Please note that the clinical indications for each restoration are different.

Your dentist will make the right diagnosis and propose possible treatment solutions based on your particular situation. No general rule applies in a treatment choice.