Inlays and OnlaysInlays and Onlays

Fillings are an effective way of treating a cavity and protecting your tooth from further damage but if a cavity is particularly large, an inlay or onlay may be suggested instead.

Whilst onlays are used in cases where a tooth’s chewing surface needs to be filled (specifically back teeth), inlays are appropriate for less complex cases. Getting an inlay or onlay will help to keep your smile healthy and bacteria-free thereafter.

What should I expect when getting an inlay or onlay?

Like composite fillings, inlays are applied inside the cusps of your teeth, whilst onlays are more comparable to crowns, but cover only the damaged portions of a tooth. Your dentist will take an impression of the damaged tooth and send it to the dental lab, where your custom inlay or onlay is made from (metal) porcelain or resin. Both these materials are effective in mimicking the appearance and translucency of tooth enamel, blending in well with your smile. The tooth is cleaned and the inlay or onlay is fitted once we get it back from the lab.

What makes inlays and onlays so great?

• They preserve your smile: in addition to fillings, crowns are an option for preserving a tooth that has fallen victim to decay. Unlike crowns, which can often require some of your tooth enamel to be removed, the inlays and onlays process maintains nearly all of the healthy parts of the natural tooth.
• Great aesthetic result: thanks to the materials used, inlays and onlays blend in with your smile. Porcelain and composite resin are used because they closely resemble the translucency of your natural tooth enamel.
• Made with your smile in mind: the dental lab will create an onlay or inlay that perfectly matches the shade and shape of the damaged tooth.