Inlays and Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are used to restore posterior teeth that have decay or fractures that cannot be repaired with a filling, but do not require a crown. In these cases, inlays and onlays preserve the healthy tooth structure to maintain the integrity of the tooth.
Inlays and onlays are typically more durable and last longer than fillings. Because of this strength, they can prolong the life of a tooth and prevent the need for more extensive treatment in the future.
What's the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
A dental inlay is more similar to a filling because fits inside the top edges of the tooth. A dental onlay is typically larger and continues beyond the top of the tooth.
Procedure:
We begin by applying a local anesthetic and removing decay from tooth.
Next, an impression is taken of your bite to create the custom inlay/onlay.
Then, we create a temporary inlay/onlay while the lab fabricates the final restoration.
- Finally, you return to our office for delivery of the permanent inlay/onlay fitting.