Dental Inlays and Onlays

If you are looking for a more conservative approach to tooth restoration, dental inlays and onlays might be right for you. They are commonly used as an alternative to crowns and they may benefit your life as well. Here’s what you need to know.

What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Dental inlays and onlays are used to repair teeth that have suffered from mild to moderate tooth decay. They can also be used on cracked teeth when the damage doesn’t require a dental crown.

Some of the materials that are used in dental inlays and onlays are composite resin, porcelain and even gold. Inlays refer to the procedure where the bonded material is limited to the center of a tooth. Onlays refer to the procedures where bonded material can extend out to one or more cusps of the tooth.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

There are many benefits you can expect from inlays and onlays:

·Natural look – use natural tooth colors that make them invisible when compared to metal fillings

·Longevity – can last up to thirty years which is longer than any other type of filling

·Great fit – they will not expand or contract like metal fillings do when dealing with temperatures

·More tooth remains intact – minimal tooth surface is removed so the healthy tooth is preserved when restoring damaged and decaying areas

Inlay and Onlay Procedure

Normally, two visits are required for the placement of inlays and onlays. During the first visit, you can expect the dentist to take an impression of the tooth. Then, that will be sent to the lab to create the permanent fixture.

Before you leave, the dentist will fit the tooth with a temporary inlay or onlay to help protect the tooth until your next visit.

During the second visit, the temporary material will be removed and the dentist will fit your tooth with the permanent structure from the lab.

If you have concerns about inlay and onlay procedures for your mouth, be sure to give us a call and schedule an appointment. We will gladly discuss all the available options with you so you can make a wise and informed decision.