South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Inlay or crown: how much of a damaged tooth needs covering?
Both an inlay and a crown are made in a laboratory to rebuild a tooth that has lost too much structure for a simple filling. The difference is one of extent. An inlay is a precisely shaped piece that sits inside the chewing surface, between the cusps, leaving the outer walls of the tooth as they are. A crown wraps the whole tooth above the gum, which means those walls are trimmed down to make room. Choosing between them is essentially a judgement about how much of the tooth is still strong enough to stand on its own.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Dental inlays if…
- The decay or old filling sits between the cusps and the surrounding walls are sound.
- You would prefer to keep as much natural tooth as possible.
- The tooth has not been root-treated and shows no cracks.
- You want a restoration that resists staining better than a large composite filling.
Choose Dental crowns if…
- A cusp has fractured or the walls of the tooth are thin and undermined.
- The tooth has had root canal treatment and needs bracing against splitting.
- You want to change the tooth’s shape, size or alignment as well as repair it.
- A previous large restoration has failed and little sound tooth remains around it.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Dental inlays | Dental crowns |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Sits within the cusps on the chewing surface | Encases the whole tooth above the gum |
| Tooth preparation | Limited to the damaged area | All surfaces reduced to make space for the cap |
| Reinforcement | Restores the missing part; does not hold the walls together | Binds the remaining tooth and protects against fracture |
| Materials | Porcelain or laboratory composite | Porcelain, ceramic, zirconia or metal |
| Appearance | Tooth-coloured and shade-matched | Tooth-coloured options match well; metal used where unseen |
| Visits | Two, with a temporary in between | Two, with a temporary in between |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | From £995 | From £995 |
| Expected lifespan | Around 10 to 15 years or more | Around 10 to 20 years or more |
| Reversibility | The tooth keeps its walls; a crown remains possible later | Once prepared, the tooth will always need a crown |
| Best suited to | Moderate damage with intact cusps | Extensive damage, fractures or root-treated teeth |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Dental inlays
Under local anaesthetic the dentist removes decay or the old filling and shapes the cavity so that it has smooth, slightly divergent walls; the cusps and outer enamel are left in place. A digital scan or impression records the space and a temporary filling seals it. The laboratory mills or presses the inlay in porcelain or a reinforced composite to match the shade recorded at the visit. One to two weeks later the temporary is removed, the inlay is checked for fit and contact with the neighbouring teeth, then bonded with resin cement and polished.
Dental crowns
Preparation is more extensive. After numbing, the dentist reduces the tooth on every side and across the top by roughly one to two millimetres, removing weak or undermined enamel and building up any missing areas with a core. A scan or impression is taken and a temporary crown protects the tooth. The laboratory constructs the crown in the chosen material, most often zirconia or layered porcelain for back teeth. At the second visit the fit, bite and shade are confirmed before the crown is cemented. Occasional sensitivity after preparation usually eases within a few weeks.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
Inlays and crowns at Wimpole Street both start from £995 per tooth. The final fee depends on the material chosen and the amount of build-up the tooth needs beforehand, and is confirmed in a written plan after examination.
Because the fees are alike, the comparison turns on longevity and on what each approach does to the tooth. An inlay typically lasts 10 to 15 years or more and keeps the outer walls intact, leaving the option of a crown later if ever required. A crown lasts 10 to 20 years or more but commits the tooth to being crowned for life. Where an inlay is clinically sufficient it is generally the more conservative investment; where it is not, a crown is the safer one.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Dental inlays
Strengths
- Preserves the walls and cusps of the tooth
- Precise laboratory fit
- Resists wear and staining better than composite
- Less post-treatment sensitivity than a large filling
- Leaves the crown option open for the future
Trade-offs
- Cannot protect a cracked or weakened tooth
- Requires intact cusps
- Two visits and a temporary in between
- Costs more than a direct filling
Dental crowns
Strengths
- Full coverage braces the tooth against splitting
- Suitable after root canal treatment
- Can improve shape, length and alignment
- Wide choice of materials for strength or appearance
- Long track record, 10 to 20 years or more
Trade-offs
- Substantial removal of healthy enamel
- Irreversible; the tooth will always need a crown
- Possible sensitivity after preparation
- Overkill for moderate damage that an inlay could manage
FAQ
Common questions
A root-treated back tooth has usually lost a great deal of structure through decay and the access cavity, and it becomes more brittle over time. Covering it with a crown holds the remaining walls together and lowers the chance of a fracture that would make the tooth unsavable.
The most common outcome is a cusp or wall fracturing beside the inlay under chewing load. The tooth can often still be crowned at that point, but sometimes the break extends below the gum and the tooth is lost. This is why the dentist assesses wall thickness and cracks before recommending an inlay.
Yes, an onlay. It covers one or more cusps without wrapping the whole tooth, and suits cases where a single cusp is weak but the rest of the tooth is sound. It is priced in the same bracket as an inlay.
Inlays are usually porcelain or a high-strength laboratory composite. Crowns can be all-ceramic or zirconia for a natural look, porcelain fused to metal, or full metal where strength matters more than appearance. Your dentist will suggest a material based on the position of the tooth and your bite.
No. Both are cleaned with ordinary brushing and flossing or interdental brushes. The junction between the restoration and the tooth is where decay can restart, so keeping that margin clean and attending hygiene visits matters for both.
Yes. Both treatments are available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s at the same fee, and records transfer to Wimpole Street when it opens on 1 October 2026.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
