Dental Inlays and Onlays

What Are Inlays And Onlays?

 

Inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair teeth with mild to moderate decay or damage. They are a good solution when the area to restore is too large for a filling, yet not so extensive that a dental crowns required. An inlay doesn’t cover the pointed tips (cusps) of your teeth, where an onlay will cover one or more cusps and restores a larger portion of your tooth. However, an onlay isn’t as large as a dental crown and doesn’t require as much natural tooth material to be replaced.

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Retain Your Natural Tooth Material

 

Inlays and onlays are a preferred treatment as part of our minimally invasive approach to dentistry. No restoration is as strong as your natural enamel, and inlays and onlays help you retain more of your natural tooth in the long run, compared to alternative treatments like a filling or dental crown.

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Compared To Fillings…

Since they are more durable, inlays and onlays don’t need to be replaced as often. Your teeth weaken each time a filling is replaced, which can lead to larger fillings, nerve damage, root canal therapy, a dental crown or even tooth extraction! Inlays and onlays can help prevent this destructive progression and are therefore less costly in the long run.