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Home --> Prosthetic Dentistry --> Inlays & Onlays
What Are Inlays?

Inlays are used to restore the area of tooth inside the cusps. Inlays are a conservative tooth restoration which means they require far less drilling and preparation of the tooth than a metal filling. Inlays are usually made of porcelain or composite resin, making them "invisible" in your smile.

What Are Onlays?

Onlays are used for large restorations. They restore the area inside the cusp and extend over one or more sides of the tooth. Because of their size they are usually made of porcelain.

What Are Onlays?

Onlays are used for large restorations. They restore the area inside the cusp and extend over one or more sides of the tooth. Because of their size they are usually made of porcelain.

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How are Inlays and Onlays Created?

Inlays and onlays are created in a dental laboratory from an impression of your teeth. Any shrinkage of the device occurs in the lab and is accounted for when cemented. Large fillings can shrink and be at greater risk for breakdown and tooth sensitivity. The final result will fit perfectly with surrounding teeth and can be as strong as a natural tooth.

When a tooth has been moderately to extensively destroyed by decay, previous drilling, or fracture but there is still sufficient enamel remaining, one innovative way it can be restored is with a porcelain inlay or onlay. An inlay is a restoration in which a portion of occlusal (biting) surface is replaced with porcelain. An onlay will restore a larger portion of the biting surface of the tooth. These are considered very conservative restorations. The porcelain allows an excellent esthetic result. It is attached to the tooth using a bonding procedure, allowing it to become very strong. It can be used with wonderful results in small, medium, and even large restorations lasting more than 12 years, relatively trouble-free.

To repair damage to the tooth’s biting surface, rather than using a simple filling, or a crown, a dentist will often use an inlay, or an onlay. Inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, gold, or composite or ceramic resin, although porcelain is now becoming the material of choice because of its strength and potential to match the natural color of your tooth.

An inlay is similar to a filling and lies inside the cusp tips of the tooth. They are custom-made to fit the prepared cavity and are then cemented into place. An onlay is a more extensive reconstruction that covers one or more cusps of a tooth. Onlays are indicated in situations where a substantial reconstruction is required. However, more of the tooth structure can be conserved compared to the placement of a crown.

Inlays and onlays are applied in two dental visits. At the first visit, the old filling, or decay, is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay / onlay. The dentist will then make an impression of the tooth, and send this impression to a dental laboratory. This impression will be used by the laboratory to construct a custom-made porcelain, or gold inlay / onlay. At this time the dentist will place a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule a second appointment.

At the second visit, the temporary sealant is removed. Your dentist will then ensure that the inlay / onlay fits properly in the tooth and does not interfere with your bite. The inlay / onlay is then bonded into the tooth with a strong bonding resin, and polished smooth.

At times a restoration is slightly too large for a filling to be placed but too small for a porcelain crown to be necessary. Porcelain onlays can match the color of the tooth exactly, are very durable and conserve the natural tooth structure. Having our own esthetic lab on premises allows us to do the procedure in a relatively short period of time.

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Steps of a Porcelain Onlay Procedure:

The tooth is prepared and cleaned as it is for a filling
A precise impression is taken which is given to our in-house lab
The technician and doctor consult on the shade of the tooth
Permanently stained or discolored teeth
The onlay is carefully fabricated
The onlay is bonded into place

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Inlays and onlays are used to replace your silver fillings. These restorations are usually made from composite resin material, porcelain, or gold. Once placed, they are virtually undetectable in the mouth, and they conserve much of your natural tooth structure.

For an inlay to be successful, it is best if the cavity involves only the occlusal surface (chewing surface) and one proximal surface (surface in between the teeth). The other proximal surface should be free of decay. An onlay, which is similar to an inlay, covers the entire proximal surface and protects the cusps from fracture. Treatment involves isolation of the tooth and removal of the old fillings under local anesthesia. Once your dentist makes an impression, the inlay/onlay is created from porcelain, gold, or composite resin material. The inlay/onlay is then cemented securely into place. Inlays and onlays usually take 2 to 3 appointments to complete. The onlay is the best alternative for covering larger surface restorations.

An inlay/onlay looks exactly like the rest of the tooth, and is so durable that it doesn't need to be replaced for years.

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 Benefits of Dental Inlays and Onlays

In treating dental decay, inlays and onlays help to eliminate tooth sensitivity and eventual tooth loss. Inlays and onlays also offer the following benefits:

Since they can be made from tooth-colored material, including porcelain and composite resin, inlays and onlays are virtually invisible
Unlike metal fillings, inlays and onlays will not expand or contract in response to temperature changes caused by hot or cold foods. This change in size can cause teeth to weaken or fracture
The use of inlays and onlays requires less tooth reduction than does the use of metal fillings. This allows dentists to conserve more of a patient’s natural tooth structure in the treatment process
Because of the way inlays and onlays are made, they help to strengthen teeth by up to 75 percent
The durable material from which inlays and onlays are made helps them last up to 30 years, much longer than that of conventional fillings
Inlays and onlays can replace silver fillings to create a healthier, more natural-looking smile
By saving decayed teeth, inlays and onlays prevent the need for more extensive treatment later on

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