Antioch Veneers and Implants

Dental Inlays and Onlays

As a more conservative approach to tooth restoration, dental inlays and onlays are used to repair rear teeth that have mild to moderate tooth decay. Dental inlays onlays serve as an alternative to full crowns and can also be used for cracked teeth where the damage does not warrant a dental crown. Made from a variety of materials, porcelain, composite resin, and even gold can all be used to create inlays and onlays.

 

What’s the difference?

Inlays refer to procedures where the bonded material is limited to the center of the tooth. Onlays refer to procedures where the bonded material can extend to one or more cusps of the tooth

 

What are the benefits?

  • Inlays and onlays are natural looking, which makes them virtually invisible compared to metal fillings.  

  • They have a great fit! Inlays and onlays will not expand or contract based on temperature like metal fillings.

  • With superb longevity, inlays and onlays can last up to thirty years, which is longer than any other type of filling.

  • They require the minimal amount of a tooth’s surface to be removed. This helps to preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas.

 

How it’s done

You should expect to visit your Antioch dentist for two separate appointments when receiving an inlay or onlay. During the first appointment, the dentist will take an impression of your tooth for the laboratory. The lab is responsible for creating a permanent and individualized inlay or onlay. Before leaving, the dentist will fit your tooth with a temporary inlay or onlay in order to protect the exposed tooth between visits. At the final appointment, the dentist will replace the temporary material and fit your tooth with the permanent inlay or onlay from the laboratory.