Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and onlays can be used to restore teeth that require large fillings. They provide excellent cosmetic results, along with increased strength and durability. The inlay and onlay are bonded onto the tooth in order to prevent further deterioration requiring root canal treatment.
When it comes to dentistry, our experts work hard to maintain and keep your teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible. The longer you can keep your natural teeth, the better it is for your overall oral health. Inlays and Onlays are a method of preserving teeth that have been attacked by decay. While crowns are an option for damaged teeth, they often require your dentist to file down or remove a little of your existing tooth, in order for the sleeve to fit nicely over the top and stay in line with your existing teeth. Onlays and inlays fit onto your teeth in a way that maintains all or most of your current tooth structure.
What is a dental inlay?
Inlays and fillings are almost interchangeable but have a couple of differences. Suppose the amount of tooth decay is on the smaller side. In that case, you’ll likely get a regular filling, which is a composite material covering the space after the cavity is removed. Your filling is completed in one office visit.
However, if your cavity is on the larger side and is entirely within the inside of the tooth, not extending to the cusp, or if your tooth is cracked on the inside, your dentist may select an inlay as the best option, which is made of porcelain instead of a composite resin or other material.
What is a dental onlay?
Think of a dental onlay as an extension of an inlay. The inlay lies in the middle of your tooth between the two cusps; an onlay covers more of the tooth, including the cusp and part of the outside of your tooth. You need an onlay if you have a lot of decay around the cusp of your tooth as well as in the middle.
Onlays are also used in some instances for a cracked tooth. An onlay is similar to a crown, but you can expect to keep more of your natural tooth.
What types of Inlays/Onlays are available?
- Porcelain
- Gold
- Composite
Most inlays are now made of porcelain, as the desire for more natural-looking teeth increases and the ability to bond these restorations to your tooth improves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like fillings, inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain or composite resin to blend naturally with the rest of your teeth and provide lasting strength and reinforcement to your otherwise damaged tooth. It is possible to get gold and amalgam inlays and onlays, however composite resin and porcelain choices make for a solution that is hardly noticeable.
Treatments will take two appointments as the carefully moulded part to replace your tooth needs to be crafted in a dental laboratory. On your first visit, your dentist will take a mould of the tooth, which will be used to create the inlay or onlay. Your finished inlay or onlay will then be carefully fitted during your second appointment.
Inlays and onlays are very stable restorations that fit a damaged tooth perfectly to provide superior protection and the ability to withstand stronger chewing forces. The affected tooth requires minimal preparation and, as the inlay or onlay is tailored to fit, they can be easier to keep clean than other restorations. When properly maintained, with effective cleaning and regular check-ups, inlays and onlays can last for years.