Filling, inlay/onlay, or crown

An inlay or onlay restores only part of the tooth. In the studies, people received the restoration type needed for their tooth, so partial coverage and a crown were not interchangeable labels for the same repair.

A crown is commonly used when tooth-structure loss exceeds 50%. The review includes gold, metal-ceramic, all-ceramic, and zirconia crowns as complete-coverage material options.

The type of restoration is one reason treatment costs differ. In the NHS system, adults usually contribute toward treatment costs, which are organised by cost band; some circumstances qualify for free care.

Published survival figures depend on the study and follow-up period. One comparison reported 95.30% for inlays, 97.00% for onlays, and 96.10% for crowns; at five years another reported 98.90% for inlays and onlays and 97.40% for crowns.

Partial and complete restorations can fracture or chip, lose retention, develop recurrent decay, or have endodontic complications. In all-ceramic restorations, severe staining at the margin can occur; crown reports also included core failure.

An implant is a fixed alternative to a removable denture and can replace one tooth or several teeth. It uses a titanium screw in the jaw to support a crown, bridge, or denture, rather than restoring the original tooth.

The remaining tooth structure, tooth history, position in the mouth, caries measures, and periodontal measures can all affect survival. In the reviewed evidence, anterior teeth had higher survival rates than posterior teeth.