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Crown Alternatives

Crown Alternative: Crowns versus Bioclear Overlays

That’s right, you now have an option for a tooth that a crown has been recommended it’s called a Bioclear Overlay. A crown is typically recommended to add strength to a weakened tooth where large portions of the original tooth structure is missing due to decay, fractures or previous restorations. Also, teeth that are experiencing chewing pain or have had root canals, typically a crown is recommended. Now with advancements in technology you can get a tooth restored not with a crown but with an overlay. Let’s compare a crown to a Bioclear overlay.
Close-up of dental implant abutment and crown components positioned in oral cavity during procedure.
  • Step 1: Here we have a tooth with a large broken old amalgam restoration that needed either a crown or a Bioclear overlay.
Close-up of dental crowns and restorations on posterior teeth in oral cavity.
  • Step 2: All of the old amalgam and any decay have been removed. What you see is the remaining good tooth structure. In a crown procedure, the dentist fills in the tooth with a core and then reduces its size by removing all the enamel. The question you might ask yourself is “what's wrong with the remaining tooth structure?” The answer is nothing is wrong with it. So then why do dentists remove all the enamel? Because that's how they do crowns. Bioclear overlays conserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible and they are as strong as a crown.
Close-up of three teeth showing dental crowns and restorations in mouth during examination.
  • Step 3: Here you see a tooth prepped for an overlay. Basically, we fill in the missing tooth structure using injection molding of heated composite and have the restoration create a new chewing surface for the tooth. These Bioclear overlays form a monolithic restoration or a continuous restoration with no seams that create weak points.
Close-up of three dental crowns or caps displayed against pink gum tissue in dental setting.
  • Step 4: The dotted line shows where the overlay will extend while conserving as much of your original tooth as possible.
Dental model showing teeth anatomy and positioning on pink dentist's chair with tools
  • Step 5: The dentist will use clamps to hold the clear matrix next to the tooth. This will contain the restoration so it does not stick to the adjacent teeth.
Dental model showing three tooth sections stacked vertically with blue connectors on pink base.
  • Step 6: The heated composite has been injection molded into the tooth in one big increment forming a solid monolithic restoration that becomes one with the tooth. The heated composite is intentionally overfilled into the tooth. Then the overlay is sculpted or milled back to its final form where it will look and feel very natural.
Dental crown restoration showing tooth preparation and ceramic crown placement in clinical setting.
  • Step 7: Here is a finished Bioclear overlay. Notice how smooth and natural it looks. It is also as strong as the widely used E-max ceramic crowns while keeping as much of your original tooth as possible. Quite honestly, Bioclear overlays are on the cutting edge of what great modern dentistry has to offer. It's really a shame that more dentists are not doing these overlays but instead choose to grind your tooth down to a nub and put a crown on it. You now have an alternative to a crown: it's called the Bioclear overlay.

Crowns

  • Typically take two visits/temp crown for 2 weeks.
  • About 70% of your original tooth is removed including 100% of your protective enamel.
  • The margin where the crown meets the tooth at the gum line/is its weak spot and is susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
  • If decay is going to affect a crowned tooth the margin is where it happens and it's common.
  • Can be so hard that they wear into the opposing tooth.
  • Can come off and need to be re-cemented.
  • Once a crown is placed on a tooth it will always require a crown. Love it or hate it there's no going back.

Bioclear Overlays

  • Single visit procedure
  • The goal of the overlay is to leave as much of your original tooth while creating a restoration that strengthens your tooth. Only decay, old restorations, and some enamel from the chewing surface of your tooth is removed for an overlay. Much more conservative than a crown procedure.
  • No more re-cementing crowns that come off. The overlay is bonded to enamel and injection molded into and around your tooth. These overlays will not come off your tooth.
  • We want to mimic your original tooth as much as possible. These overlays wear at the same rate as enamel.
  • The Bioclear overlay is as strong as a ceramic E-Max crown because the overlay is in compression and covers the chewing surface of your tooth while preserving as much of your original tooth as possible. Less invasive but just as strong.
  • Your saliva naturally forms a layer on your teeth called biofilm that can interfere with the bonding process. The biofilm is identified with a special stain and then removed with a dental version of a sand blaster. This allows us to achieve maximum bond strength and a complete seal of the overlay to your tooth. Traditional dentistry does not do this, Bioclear is better.
  • All Bioclear restorations including overlays are injection molded using a heated composite into and around your tooth. This forms a strong continuous or monolithic restoration with no layers or seams.
  • Overlays wrap over and around portions of your tooth providing added strength, retention, and protection from future decay.
  • Overlays have no margins or gaps for decay to start. The edge of the overlay is so gradual and smooth that it’s virtually undetectable and not susceptible to decay. It's called an "infinity edge".
  • Patients often ask me which will last longer a crown or an overlay?
Patients often ask me which will last longer a crown or overlay? What they are really asking is which restoration will help me keep my tooth longer? Here’s what I say. The Bioclear overlay will help you keep your tooth longer because it retains more of your healthy tooth structure, it causes less trauma to your tooth, the infinity edge resists decay from starting. The bonding of the overlay to your enamel is maximized all while being as strong as the very popular E-Max crown. These Bioclear overlays are built to preserve and protect your original tooth and last a long time.

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All I can say is that I love Dr Gently and his staff. They always make you feel like family and always get quality work when needed. They explain everything as they go so your not blind sided . I would recommend them to anyone

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A wonderful experience. You will be treated wonderfully by all the staff. Lovely Office. Dr. Gentling is engaging and informative through all your treatment process. I was referred by a neighbor and it could not have been a better experience.

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Great visit to the BA Dentist Office!! any time you get a good results, it’s great visit!! Office staffs were very friendly and my hygienist was very gentle and through, Doctor Gentling was very knowledgeable to pointing out the dark shadows in my front tooth and gave me couple of options.

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