When is a dental onlay necessary and what materials work best?

Post date: 2021-10-25 18:29:34

My brand-new dentist showed me a picture of my 20-year old cavity and the tooth around it had a crack. She recommended a ceramic onlay. I have struggled to find reliable information on when an onlay should be performed - do you have any insight?

New-to-me dentist showed me a picture of my cavity, which is 20 years old and amalgam, and the tooth clearly had a crack. She recommended an onlay to save the tooth.

I just saw my old trusted dentist in February and his office never mentioned it (I can't go back to old trusted dentist as I no longer live in the same state). Old dentist does not use dental photography and could have missed the crack.

The new dentist recommended the onlay and specifically recommended it be ceramic. The ceramic onlay is $1100. Insurance covers the cost of a metal onlay at $300.

That's a heck of a gap to pay for ceramic. Except for the pertinent fact that I grind and clench my teeth (yes, I wear a night guard).

I have two questions: 1) when is an onlay recommended (and what are the prospects long-term) and 2) if it is recommended, what material is recommended for people with bruxism?

Normally I'm a very competent researcher - but MetaFilter, I am tired. If you can point me to reliable peer-reviewed articles or have experience with the topic, I'd appreciate it.

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