Background
Porcelain Inlays and Onlays are are perfectly engineered for mid-level dental damage. Cavities, or caries, grow and spread with time and neglect. Depending on when the decay is discovered and addressed, your dentist will discuss your best options for treatment. Small cavities or cracks can be repaired with a composite filling. Using the same technique on large cavities, broken teeth, or fractured fillings may weaken the remaining tooth structure. Crowns are useful solutions for severe damage, but require removing a significant amount of the original tooth structure, so crowns are not recommended for moderate decay or repairs. Dental inlays and onlays fit right between fillings and crowns.
Porcelain inlays and onlays restore large cavities without having to use a crown. They differ only that inlays, as the name suggests, fills the space between the cusps of a tooth, while onlays fill the space in between and cover one or more cusps, or biting surface. For this reason, porcelain onlays are sometimes referred to as “partial crowns”.
The Process
Porcelain inlays and onlays usually require two visits to your dentist. During the first appointment, your dentist will numb and clean the tooth and remove any decay or old filling. A precise impression will be made of the tooth’s structure. Your dentist will then fit a temporary filling to serve you until the next appointment. During your second visit, the temporary filling will be removed and permanent dental inlay or onlay is cemented onto the tooth. Your dentist will perform checks and may make minute adjustments to ensure an immaculate fit and comfortable bite.
The Results
Inlays and onlays can be made out of composite resin, gold, or porcelain, custom colored to match your teeth. Porcelain inlays and onlays are your best option for addressing large cavities, broken or fractured teeth, or old fractured fillings before they turn into major dental problems.
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