Dental inlays and onlays are some of the strongest and most lifelike dental restorations available. After your mouth has been anesthetized we prepare the tooth in much the same way we would for a standard filling. When the tooth has been prepared to our satisfaction, an impression is made and sent to a dental lab. You will usually be required to wear a temporary filling until the restoration is fabricated. With proper care, your inlay or onlay will increase your overall health and instill confidence for years to come.
A Conservative Approach
In certain cases, inlays and onlays are a conservative alternative to full coverage dental crowns. Also known as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays offer a well-fitting, stronger, longer lasting reparative solution to tooth decay or similar damage. These restorations are beneficial from both an esthetic and functional point of view.
Inlays and onlays can often be used in place of traditional dental fillings to treat tooth decay or similar structural damage. Inlays and onlays are fabricated indirectly in a dental lab before being fitted and bonded to the damaged tooth by Dr. Gilmore.
The restoration is dubbed an "inlay" when the material is bonded within the center of a tooth. The restoration is dubbed an "onlay" when the extent of the damage requires inclusion of one or more cusps of the tooth or full coverage of the biting surface.
Why Inlays and Onlays?
Superior Fit: Inlays and onlays offer a conservative preparation that preserves as much healthy tooth as possible. They are a great choice if you have minimal to moderate tooth decay that extends into a flossing area, offering an excellent alternative to full coverage crowns.
Tooth Structure Safeguard: Inlays and onlays preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas, helping to ensure functional longevity.
Easy Cleaning: Because the fit is tailored at all edges and the preparation minimal, your tooth can be easier to clean than it would be with full coverage restorative alternatives such as a dental crown. Composite fillings can shrink during the curing process, whereas prefabricated porcelain or gold inlays and onlays will not .
Tight Spaces: If you have a cavity between your teeth, consider an inlay rather than a direct composite filling. Inlays are better at sealing teeth to keep out bacteria; they are easy to clean, will not stain and offer exceptional longevity.
Strength and Stability: Inlays and onlays are extremely stable restorative solutions for the treatment of decay.
Protect Weak Teeth: An onlay can protect the weak areas of the tooth. The procedure does not require the complete reshaping of the tooth.
