Inlays/Onlays
Dental inlays and onlays are used to restore damaged or decayed tooth’s biting surface. They are bigger than fillings and smaller than crowns. Inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain, composite resin or gold. Due to its natural tooth colour and its strength, porcelain is now becoming the most popular choice for patients who desire a more natural looking smile. Gold is used where strength is paramount. Inlays are custom made in the dental laboratory where it will require at least two visits to complete the treatment.
Dental inlays are similar to fillings and lie within indented top surfaces of a tooth. They are individually made to match your tooth’s specification and are then cemented into place. Dental onlays are a more extensive reconstruction and are used to treat decay/damage that extends to one or more cusps. Onlays conserve more tooth structure when compared to a placement of a crown because their use requires minimal removal of a tooth’s surface.
