Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are routinely used to fortify and reconstruct damaged teeth.

Restorative procedures such as inlays and onlays protect your smile against more serious damage and reduce the need for complex restorative treatment in the future.

What are inlays and onlays?

Inlays and onlays are often compared to being somewhere between a filling and a crown. They can be white tooth coloured, gold or silver.

Inlays: these are used when a cavity is too big for a filling. Inlays are created to fit the particular shape and size of a cavity, and are cemented in place to restore the tooth.

Onlays: onlays are characterised by the fact that they cover the cusp (biting surface) of a tooth, and like inlays, they’re created as one single, solid restoration. Onlays are reserved for larger areas of decay, where more tooth structure needs to be removed. We often use them to complete a root canal on a molar tooth.

What to expect from an inlay or onlay

Inlays and onlays are placed under local anaesthetic. Once your dentist has removed the decayed and damaged tooth matter, an impression of the tooth is taken, so your inlay or onlay can be made to remain in keeping with the characteristics of your smile.

The inlay or onlay is then permanently secured in place at the next appointment.

Take a look at the animated video below to see how inlays and onlays are created and placed.

Why inlays and onlays?

When a tooth has a very large filling, especially on a molar tooth, it can be more prone to chipping and breaking. Inlays and onlays are made in a dental laboratory, like crowns, and provide a stronger restoration than a filling.

• They are custom made for your teeth and can be made to match your tooth shade.
• Long-lasting answer to retaining existing tooth structure.
• Restore chipped, cracked and broken teeth.
• Fill cavities to stop food from becoming trapped.
• Have peace of mind that your tooth is restored.
• Can be used to improve the appearance of large unsightly silver metal fillings.

Aftercare

Some aftercare pointers include:

• Keep the inlay/onlay clean by brushing twice per day as you would a normal tooth and flossing in between the teeth.
• Avoid biting very hard or sticky foods on the inlay/onlay.
• If the inlay/onlay does come out, place it in a small container and make an appointment to see us to cement it back in. Keep the tooth clean and make sure food is cleaned out of the cavity.