Restoring a damaged tooth: fillings, onlays, crowns and posts
Originally published
Tooth restoration means repairing or replacing damaged tooth structure. It can range from a small filling to an onlay or crown. The aim is to keep the tooth functional and maintainable while preserving as much sound tissue as possible.
The right approach depends on the cause and extent of damage, the remaining tooth, its root and gums, and the forces on it when you bite. A crown or post is not automatically necessary for every chipped or root-filled tooth.
When should a damaged tooth be checked?
Arrange a dental assessment after a chip or fracture, even if it is not painful. A small rough edge may only need smoothing, but the dentist must check for deeper damage. Do not file the tooth yourself.
Decay, a failing filling or tooth wear may also leave a tooth needing repair. If the pulp inside is irreversibly inflamed or infected, root canal treatment may be needed before the final restoration. Some badly damaged teeth cannot be predictably saved; the dentist should explain the options rather than promise that any root can support a new crown.
Seek urgent dental advice for significant pain or swelling. Severe swelling affecting breathing or swallowing needs emergency help through 999 or A&E.
Composite fillings and bonding
Tooth-coloured composite resin can replace missing structure and repair selected chips. The dentist bonds it to the tooth, shapes it and hardens it with a curing light. Cosmetic bonding uses this material to change aspects of appearance; a repair does not always involve covering the whole front surface.
Composite can often be repaired, but it may stain, wear or chip. There is no rule that every filling must be replaced after five years. Its condition and the tooth around it should be reviewed, with repair or replacement when needed.
Inlays, onlays and crowns
An inlay fits within part of the biting surface. An onlay also covers one or more of the raised points, or cusps. These restorations can be made from different materials and may preserve more tooth than a full crown in a suitable case.
A crown covers a prepared tooth and can help restore a tooth that is extensively broken down or weakened. It is not the routine first choice for minor damage. Preparation removes tooth tissue, so ask why a crown is recommended and whether a less extensive repair could work.
The method of making a restoration and the number of appointments vary. An impression or digital scan may be used, and temporary protection may be needed between visits. A particular material does not guarantee a perfect match or unlimited durability.
What is a post and core?
When too little of a root-filled tooth remains to hold the build-up, a post may be placed within the root canal to help retain a core. The core replaces missing structure beneath the final crown. Posts can be made from fibre or metal; they are not all screws.
A post does not automatically strengthen the root and is not needed after every root canal treatment. Preparing space for one has risks, so the dentist assesses the root and the remaining tooth first. A fibre post is a component of a restoration, not a separate guaranteed improvement over every composite filling.
Veneers serve a different purpose: they cover the front surface of a tooth in selected cases. They do not require heavy reduction in every case, and they cannot replace an absent root.
After the repair
An untreated problem may progress, but a damaged tooth does not inevitably cause neighbouring teeth to loosen, gum disease or jawbone loss. Ask what the actual risk of waiting is in your case, including the risk of further fracture or infection.
Keep the tooth and surrounding gums clean and attend reviews. Avoid testing the repair by biting hard objects. Contact the practice if the bite feels uneven, the restoration loosens or pain persists. Restoring a tooth does not make it immune to decay or future damage.
Listed fees and your treatment plan
The current listed fees are:
- Post and core: £80.
- Custom laboratory-made post and core: £130.
- Composite veneer: £220.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown: £500.
- Full ceramic crown for teeth 1–3 (incisors and canines): £600.
These are separate treatments, not interchangeable prices for every repair or an automatic package total. The listed crown entries include a digital scan. Ask whether root canal treatment, a post and core, or other work is needed and how each is included in your estimate.
See our prosthodontic fees and current finance terms, or contact us for an assessment.