Procedures

Dental Inlays and Onlays

As a more conservative approach to tooth restoration, dental inlays and onlays are used to repair rear teeth that have mild to moderate tooth decay. They can also be used for cracked teeth where the damage does not require the use of a dental crown. In order to create inlays and onlays, porcelain, composite resin and even gold are used.

 

What's the difference between inlays and onlays?

While inlays refer to procedures where the bonded material is limited to the center of the tooth, onlays refer to procedures where the bonded material can extend further to one or more cusps of the tooth.

 

What are the benefits of inlays and onlays?

  • They provide a natural look that makes them virtually invisible compared to metal fillings

  • They will not expand or contract based on temperature for a great fit

  • They can last up to thirty years, which is longer than any other type of filling

  • Minimal amount of the tooth’s structure is required to be removed, which helps to preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas

 

How it’s done

You’ll need to schedule two appointments with Dr. Sharma for the placements of inlays and onlays. During your first appointment, she will take an impression of your tooth to be sent to a dental lab in order to create the permanent inlay or onlay. Dr. Sharma will then provide you with a temporary inlay or onlay to keep your tooth protected between visits. During your second appointment, your new inlay or onlay, received from the dental lab, will take the place of your temporary inlay or onlay. And that’s it!