Cavity Treatment Methods: The Differences Between Resin, Inlay/Onlay, and Crown (Cavity Treatment Cost)

Learn About Cavity Treatment Methods

Resin, Inlay, Onlay, Crown

Cavity Treatment Cost

The saying that going to the dentist only when it hurts is too late,

you may have heard it at least once.

That is because cavities are often already quite advanced

by the time pain appears.

They quietly spread inside the tooth where they cannot be seen,

and at some point reach the nerve,

revealing themselves through pain.

That is why the most important thing in cavity treatment is

‘how early it was found.’

If cavities are prevented through regular checkups,

and even if one does develop, it is treated at the enamel stage,

the treatment process becomes simpler and cavity treatment cost

can also be reduced significantly.

This is also the most realistic way to avoid overtreatment.

The Meaning of Cavities

The precise medical term for a cavity is

dental caries.

After eating, bacteria in the mouth

begin to act on the remaining debris

to obtain energy.

In this process, they break down sugars and produce acid,

and this acid slowly erodes the tooth surface, causing cavities.

The problem is that this process mostly

proceeds without pain.

If brushing is insufficient or care is neglected

and it progresses into an advanced cavity,

the decay will pass through the enamel,

to the dentin, and eventually reach pulpitis.

From that point on, the treatment scope becomes wider,

and cavity treatment cost also increases step by step.

Cavity Treatment Type 1) Resin

If the cavity is in the early stage and limited to the enamel,

resin treatment is possible.

After removing the decayed area,

it is restored with a tooth-colored resin,

which allows same-day treatment and is beneficial for preserving the natural tooth.

The cost of resin cavity treatment is

around 100,000 KRW on average,

and up to the low 200,000 KRW range at most,

with differences depending on tooth location, extent of decay, and the material used.

Cavity Treatment Type 2) Inlay/Onlay

If the cavity has progressed to the dentin in the middle stage,

inlay or onlay treatment is needed.

This method is used when the extent of decay has become too large to be handled with resin,

and involves taking an impression of the tooth, fabricating a prosthetic restoration, and then attaching it.

The cost of inlay/onlay cavity treatment is

usually in the mid-to-late 200,000 KRW range on average for resin-based restorations,

and around the 300,000 KRW range on average for gold restorations.

It typically takes about one week for treatment.

Cavity Treatment Type 3) Crown

If the cavity has progressed to the late stage and reached pulpitis,

a crown treatment is necessary.

In this case, root canal treatment is also involved,

and the damaged tooth is treated by fully covering it for protection.

Crown cavity treatment cost varies depending on the material,

with options such as metal, PFM, gold, and zirconia.

Generally, three to four or more visits are required,

and the cost varies depending on the treatment scope and tooth condition.

Summary of Cavity Treatment Types

Cavity treatment progresses in order of the smallest decay area:

resin → inlay·onlay → crown

The same cavity can have very different treatment methods, costs, and tooth preservation potential depending on when it is discovered.

The earlier the treatment, the lower the burden,

and the lower the possibility of overtreatment.

Because cavities are difficult for patients to check directly,

and it is hard to make an accurate judgment based on pain alone,

choosing an honest dental clinic that diagnoses and explains only the treatment range that is truly necessary is most important.

Do not rush treatment,

accurately diagnose only the necessary treatment,

and preserve the natural tooth as much as possible.

Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic follows these principles,

reducing the burden of cavity treatment cost while providing care that increases trust in the treatment results.

Treating even a small cavity lightly is not the right approach,

and treating honestly without overtreatment.

That is the standard of a truly honest dental clinic.

A new smile

A new beginning

This is Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic.

• This post is provided by a medical institution in connection with a third-party contract and contains medical information.