Porcelain Inlays / Onlays | Repair a Weakened Tooth - Fresno, CA

Both aesthetically pleasing and highly durable, porcelain inlays and onlays are a great alternative to composite fillings. They also provide a remarkable amount durability that makes them a sought after option for fortifying weakened molars. For teeth that perform the bulk of your intensive chewing, teeth that are damaged, or for the maintenance of past extensive restorations, inlays and onlays offer excellent denfensive and restorative traits. Unlike crowns which envelop the tooth entirely, inlays and onlays are fabricated in order to defend a specific part of the tooth and effectively require less oral preparation.

Porcelain inlays and onlays have several other advantages including:

•    Fit better to the affected tooth, leading to healthier gums
•    Higher quality fit means less bacterial leakage
•    Reduced wear on your bite compared to other fillings
•    Superior match to your natural teeth's color

Porcelain inlays / onlays are customizable and they are fabricated to match the natural shade of your surrounding teeth, creating a more organic and better overall look. Inlays / onlays are created using the same porcelain material as for crowns and dental bridges. Porcelain inlays and onlays materials highly resemble the materials used for composite-based tooth restorations, but due the different materials used and the laboratory process involved in fabricating them, porcelain inlays and onlays are more durable and tend to be stronger than their composite counterparts.

Inlays and onlays require 2 appointments to be placed. During your first appointment, the decayed portion of your tooth is removed and prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure an optimal fit, the dentist will make an impression of your tooth, and send it to a laboratory to make your inlay or onlay. Your tooth will then be filled with temporary sealant until your next appointment. 

During your next appointment, the sealant will be removed. Your dentist will check to ensure your inlay or onlay fits properly before attaching it to your tooth with a durable resin, before finally polishing it off.

If you're considering inlays or onlays, or have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our office.