Crowns
Crowns can be recommended in several situations.  Most commonly a crown is recommended when a tooth has broken or if the decayed tooth structure has encompassed too large of an area to be replaced by any other restorative procedure.  The crown procedure is a two appointment process. 

During the first appointment the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression is taken for the laboratory to make the crown, and a temporary crown is cemented into place for you to wear while the laboratory makes the permanent crown.  At the second appointment the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is cemented into place.

Inlays/Onlays
Sometimes the area of the tooth that needs to be restored is too large to be replaced by a filling.  Depending upon the situation, Dr. Testa may recommend a conservative restoration such as an inlay or an onlay.  An inlay/onlay is like a lab-made filling, it will last longer than a regular filling and is more conservative than a crown because less tooth structure is removed. 

Since the inlay/onlay is made by the lab the procedure is completed in two appointments.  During the first appointment the tooth is prepared for the inlay/onlay, an impression is taken for the laboratory to make the restoration, and a temporary inlay/onlay is cemented into place for you to wear while the lab makes the permanent inlay/onlay.  At the second appointment the temporary is removed and the permanent inlay/onlay is cemented.

Bridges
Bridges are non-removable restorations used to replace missing teeth.  Like the crown process, the bridge procedure requires two appointments.  During the first appointment the teeth adjacent to the vacant area are prepared like crowns, an impression is taken for the laboratory to make the bridge, and a temporary bridge is cemented into place for you to wear while the bridge is being made at the laboratory.  At the second appointment the temporary bridge is removed and the permanent bridge is cemented.