I get the appeal of onlays, especially since crowns for baby teeth feel like overkill when they’re just going to fall out. But from what I’ve seen with my own kid, onlays didn’t hold up that well after a root canal. The tooth was already pretty compromised, and a couple months later, the onlay popped off. We ended up getting a stainless steel crown anyway—felt like we doubled up on procedures and costs in the end.
Not saying onlays are a bad option, but if the tooth structure is weak or there’s a lot missing, sometimes it’s more practical to go straight to a crown. Less hassle, fewer appointments. The upfront price is rough, but I guess it depends on how much trouble you want to risk down the road. Every kid’s different, though... maybe we just got unlucky.
if the tooth structure is weak or there’s a lot missing, sometimes it’s more practical to go straight to a crown.
That’s what I’m worried about… My kid’s dentist mentioned onlays, but the tooth is already pretty broken down after the root canal. Did your dentist push for the onlay first, or did you ask for it? I’m nervous about doing something that might not last.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. My dentist mentioned onlays too, but honestly, my tooth was in rough shape after the root canal. I was worried an onlay wouldn’t hold up long-term, especially with how much was missing. Ended up going with a crown for peace of mind. I’d rather not risk having to redo it all again in a year or two... Sometimes less isn’t more, you know?
I totally get the peace of mind thing with crowns. The idea of having to go back in for more work after a root canal is honestly kind of stressful. I’m still figuring out what to do myself—my dentist mentioned onlays too, but I’m not sure how much tooth structure you actually need left for one to work long-term. It sounds like if a lot’s missing, a crown is just sturdier overall.
I’ve read that onlays are less invasive since they save more of the original tooth, but durability seems to depend a lot on how much healthy tooth is left. If the damage is pretty deep or there’s not much left above the gumline, I’d worry about it cracking or coming loose. My front molar has a big chunk gone after my root canal, so I’m leaning toward a crown too, even though part of me hates grinding down more tooth.
Cost is another thing I keep thinking about. Onlays are sometimes cheaper up front but if they fail and you need a crown later anyway, it kind of defeats the purpose. Insurance is covering most of my crown, so that makes it easier to justify.
I wish there was a clear-cut answer, but it really seems like it depends on each case. My friend had an onlay after her root canal and it’s held up fine for three years, but her tooth wasn’t as busted as mine. I guess sometimes the “less is more” idea just doesn’t fit when you want something that’ll last and not make you anxious every time you chew.
Honestly, just hoping whatever I pick means fewer dentist visits in the future...
That anxiety about more dental work down the line is so real. I’ve had both an onlay and a crown after root canals, and honestly, the crown gave me more peace of mind—especially since my tooth was pretty beat up. Like you said, if there’s not much left, a crown just feels sturdier. I hated the idea of grinding down more tooth too, but after my onlay cracked a couple years in, I kind of wished I’d just gone with the crown first. Insurance covering most of it definitely helps. It really does come down to how much tooth you’ve got left and how much you want to risk having to redo things. I totally get just wanting fewer trips to the dentist...
