The layman’s term for crown is “cap”. A cap may be needed if a tooth is broken or has become heavily decayed. A crown completely covers the tooth after the tooth is drilled circumferentially, usually down to the gum line. An onlay is used when there is still a lot of good tooth structure remaining so the tooth doesn’t have to be reduced as much. It is kind of like putting a “new top” on the tooth. See similar questions...

The American Dental Association is an excellent resource for details on these restorations. Visit www.ada.org for more information. Dr. Lewcock will provide an in depth explanation of these excellent restorations for your teeth at your appointment but a brief description is listed below: Crowns: Crowns or "caps" are restorations designed to fit snugly and function as normal teeth. See similar questions...

onlay is a tooth-shaped restoration made of composite resin or porcelain that completely or partially covers the natural tooth. It is for those restorations that need to be stronger than a simple filling yet don’t require a full crown. Often, Dr. Rieder or Dr. Carson may suggest onlays as an alternative treatment to crowns if it means saving more healthy natural tooth structure. See similar questions...

inlay or an onlay is a conservative alternative to a full crown, and may be recommended after decay is removed. Tooth-colored material is bonded to the tooth for increased support and strength as well as to restore normal appearance. See similar questions...

A crown is a restorative that covers, or "caps," a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and fillings won't solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn't get worse. See similar questions...