When most people think of repairing and restoring a damaged tooth, they think of fillings and, for more extensive damage, crowns. But other options could be even better, depending on the amount and type of damage you’re facing. Inlays and onlays are custom restorations designed to “hug” your tooth and restore its integrity.
Dr Taylor’s Family Dental Center is a leading provider of cosmetic and restorative dentistry treatments, so it’s no surprise that the team is skilled in inlay and onlay applications, too. In this post, learn what these restorations are and the roles they can play in helping you maintain your healthy, beautiful smile.
You probably know fillings work by removing the damaged part of the tooth and filling the area with durable materials, such as composite resins or metal amalgam. And maybe you have experience with dental crowns — durable “jackets” that surround your entire tooth.
Each of these repairs serves an important role — fillings when damage restricts a relatively small area of your tooth, and crowns for more extensive damage involving a significant part of the tooth structure. Inlays and onlays fall in between, repairing damage that requires more than a filling, but isn’t extensive enough to require a complete crown.
Like crowns, inlays and onlays consist of tough materials — typically porcelain, tinted and shaped to blend in with your other teeth. But unlike a crown that encircles the entire visible part of a tooth, an inlay or onlay covers part of the tooth.
Specifically, inlays fit inside the grooves of a tooth’s surface, while an onlay covers one or more points or cusps on the chewing surface of a tooth, providing more extensive coverage and repair but still not as much as a crown. Since they’re custom restorations, inlays and onlays require two visits: one to prepare the tooth and make a model of the area, and one to place them permanently.
Inlays and onlays offer benefits for specific types of repairs for large cavities.
While fillings are durable, they’re not beneficial for larger repairs where the natural tooth material needs to be removed for a large cavity. In these instances, fillings typically don’t provide enough support and strength, leading to additional decay or tooth fracture in the future.
On the other hand, inlays and onlays are designed specifically for larger repairs, providing additional stability that makes them ideal for repairing “chewing” teeth subject to a lot of pressure day in and day out. They’re also less likely to shrink or “leak” compared to traditional metal amalgam fillings, reducing the risk of future decay.
While inlays and onlays provide more coverage and restoration than a filling, they’re more conservative compared to crowns. Dental crowns require complete tooth reshaping to make room for the crown. As a result, crown placement can involve the removal of a lot of your natural tooth structure.
In contrast, inlays and onlays only replace the damaged or decayed part, keeping the rest of your tooth intact. That makes these restorations ideal for larger areas of damage where there’s a fair amount of healthy tooth remaining.
Inlays and onlays are custom-made to your unique tooth shape, resulting in a truly seamless and beautifully natural-looking restoration. With proper care, like regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups, you can expect your restoration to last for many years.
If you have a cavity or other tooth damage, we have a solution for you. Learn more about inlays, onlays, and other state-of-the-art dental restorations by calling 248-681-8100 or requesting an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today. Our team of skilled dentists is available seven days a week, and we also offer same-day emergency visits.
