Dental Inlays & Onlays

Are you less than completely satisfied with your smile? Do you have a damaged tooth or teeth, a chipped tooth, or a diseased tooth that causes you pain? All of these dental issues can be solved by dental inlays and onlays. Our team of dentists can help you choose the solution that’s best suited to your mouth, lifestyle, and budget.

What Are Dental Inlays?

Dental inlays, sometimes referred to as partial crowns, are synthetic tooth material made of durable substances such as resin, ceramic, gold, or porcelain. They replace damaged or diseased portions of your teeth, stop the spread of decay, and help your smile look brighter and more intact. They are cemented to your tooth after the diseased or damaged portion has been removed and fit seamlessly alongside the remaining portion of your natural tooth.

Depending on your unique concerns and overall oral health, modern dental inlays can be preferable over traditional crowns and fillings. Dental inlays are incredibly strong and, in most cases, will never need to be replaced, even for young patients. Unlike standard fillings, inlays are not subject to shrinkage, and you won’t have small gaps between your teeth develop over time where bacteria can get in and compromise your dental health.

Not only will dental inlays help your smile to look brighter, but they will extend the lifespan of your natural teeth. Inlays actually act to seal your teeth and prevent bacteria and potential infection from affecting your dental and general health.

As opposed to dental onlays, dental inlays are inserted within the framework of your existing tooth, somewhat like a traditional filling.

What Are Dental Onlays?

Dental onlays are similar in structure and function to dental inlays. However, these reconstructive dental solutions are cemented atop of your existing tooth instead of inside it. They are appropriate for teeth where the entire crown has been damaged or is diseased.

Both inlays and onlays are used when a portion of a tooth is still intact and can be used to anchor the synthetic material. They are most often used in molars and premolars, but can be used on any tooth.

Modern technology has made getting inlays and onlays easy. 3D scanning and imaging make it possible for dentists to get an excellent fit with making an impression. In many cases, the inlay or onlay can be fitted and installed in your mouth during a single visit. This technology also makes for excellent color matching; you usually can’t tell the difference between the synthetic portion of your tooth and the natural portion of your tooth.

Dental inlays and onlays are most effective for dental patients aged 16 or older.

Comprehensive Oral Care with Dental Beauty

To learn more about how dental inlays and onlays can improve your oral health and make you feel more confident, reach out to our team today! We’ve been helping people just like you improve their smiles and dental health for over 25 years. In addition to dental inlays and onlays, Dental Beauty offers crowns and bridges and dental implants.

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are more extensive than dental fillings but less so than caps and crowns. They are typically formed in a dental lab and are made of gold, porcelain or resin depending on the patient’s needs and aesthetic goals. An inlay refers to a restoration that is formed to fit the center of a tooth, whereas an onlay refers to a restoration that encompasses at least, one cusp of the tooth. Both inlays and onlays are bonded to the surface of damaged teeth and matched to the color of the surrounding teeth.

Did you know…

that inlays and onlays can serve as alternative treatments to dental crowns when you have a broken or damaged tooth? When fillings are not enough to adequately repair a tooth, an inlay or onlay can be custom-created to fit securely onto the tooth’s surface. Depending on the materials used, the restoration can be created to appear natural and will have the same function of an organic tooth. Inlays and onlays have extremely high success rates and because they are custom made for each patient, most last longer than traditional fillings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for an inlay or onlay?

You could be a candidate for an inlay or onlay in if you have moderate tooth damage or decay and are in search of an alternative restoration option to a crown or cap. Schedule a dental consultation for a complete examination and to find out if an inlay or onlay is right for you.

What should I expect when I get my inlay or onlay restoration?

Your inlay or onlay restoration will be completed over multiple dental treatments. First, your tooth will be prepared for treatment, and an impression will be taken to serve as a mold for your new restoration. You may be fitted with a temporary restoration while your permanent inlay or onlay is fabricated. Once completed, you will return to have the temporary restoration removed and the permanent one bonded to the surface of the teeth.

Do I need to follow any post-treatment care guidelines?

Special care needs to be given to your teeth while temporary restorations are in place. It is important to avoid sticky or hard foods that could cause significant damage to temporaries. Once you receive your permanent inlay or onlay, you can resume normal eating, brushing and flossing habits.