What is the difference between a capped cusp amalgam and an adhesive onlay?

Q.
Dear Dr Hughes
I wanted to ask what is the difference between a capped cusp amalgam and an adhesive onlay? what are the clinical differences and under which circumstances would you pick one over the other? which one is clincally better and is the cost for both the same or is one more expensive then the other? Could you also please tell me the clinical procedure involved.
I would be ever so grateful if you could answer the above questions as i could not find out the difference between the two on google unfortunately.

Kind regards
Iram

A.
Dear Iram

I am not familiar with a “capped cusp amalgam”. What you could be referring to is a restoration that covers the cusps of a large amalgam. This would generally be a crown or onlay. Adhesive crowns or onlays are bonded directly to the tooth in order to offer more retention or strength to the adhesive restoration. In general we tend to use adhesive onlays as often as we can , instead of crowns, in order to preserve tooth structure. Costs are quite often equivalent.

I hope that helps

Mark

Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

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