Inlays and Onlays
What are Onlays & Inlays?
Both types of onlays and inlays are designed to restore your smile and improve your appearance. They are often needed when a filling just isn’t enough and a full dental crown is not necessary. Inlays and onlays are custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly. While inlays sit inside the grooves of a tooth, the onlay sits over the tooth needing to be restored.
Why might Onlays & Inlays be necessary?
You can think of either an inlay or onlay as a mixture between a dental filling and a dental crown. Because teeth don’t always crack or break in a perfect manner every time, these restorations can be used on cracks and fractures that have happened on the very top surface of the tooth. They may be needed for teeth that have deep areas of decay or old fillings that need replacement.
Who is the best candidate for an Onlay or Inlay?
The majority of inlays and onlays can last for several decades before replacement is needed. For this reason, some of our patients request these restorations when given an option between an inlay or onlay and a dental filling. To determine if this restoration is necessary, we’ll examine your teeth. Old fillings that need to be replaced might benefit from a full restoration placed over the tooth.
What happens during the Inlay and Onlay process?
We first remove any areas of decay and old filling material from the tooth itself. This is a great way to replace those old silver amalgam fillings that have you feeling badly about the look of your smile. We then take impressions of the tooth and use these to fabricate the permanent restoration. You will be scheduled to come in for a second appointment to have the restoration permanently placed. You can care for the new restoration as you would any of your natural teeth. It should last you for a few decades before it should be replaced.
If you feel you would benefit from inlay or onlay restorations, call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our team members.