Inlays & Onlays

Porcelain inlays and onlays are an excellent way to restore teeth with small to moderate decay. Both provide extra strength and are custom fit to your teeth allowing greater comfort and a more natural appearance.

Your dentist may recommend an inlay or an onlay if you have a tooth in need of repair, but the damage is too great for a filling and not extensive enough to warrant a dental crown. Inlays fit within the confines of the cusps of a tooth, while an onlay covers one or more cusps and may even extend over the edge of a tooth. Inlays essentially replace fillings as an option for smaller cavities and onlays are used when the damage is more extensive.

Unlike a filling, inlays and onlays normally require two office visits. During your first visit, decay is removed and cleaned from the tooth and a highly accurate impression is made from the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth which is then sent to the special laboratory that will create the inlay or onlay. During your final visit the inlay or onlay will be fitted then cemented onto the prepared surface of the tooth.

The many benefits of inlays and onlays include:

  • They are durable and strong
  • They are made to match the shade and shape of your teeth
  • They prevent decay from occurring under the restoration
  • They allow more healthy tooth structure to stay intact thus preventing root canal therapy in the future
