Inlays and Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are used to repair back teeth which have decayed or fractured. They are used in cases where there is a reasonable amount of healthy tooth structure remaining, and where a full crown isn't warranted. They can be made from a variety of materials including gold, porcelain or composite, and are an excellent solution for restoring teeth while removing the minimum amount of tooth structure.
We will prepare your tooth for either an inlay or onlay, after which we will take an impression which is sent to our dental laboratory. They will construct the restoration according to our prescription. If you're having a composite or porcelain restoration then we will take the exact shade of your teeth so that the finished restoration blends in naturally and is virtually undetectable.
Inlays
Inlays are used for teeth which have decayed only on the biting surface, while the cusps of the teeth are left unaffected. Biting surfaces of teeth are particularly susceptible to decay due to all the fissure lines which can trap particles of food.
Onlays
Onlays are used in cases where the decay has spread to the cusps of the teeth, and are generally a more extensive restoration as they require more of the tooth structure to be removed.
Both inlays and onlays are extremely hard wearing and long-lasting, and are excellent at helping to preserve and strengthen the remaining tooth structure.