Porcelain Inlays
Porcelain (tooth-coloured) inlays and onlays are restorations placed usually on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
An inlay fits within the confines of the teeth. An onlay covers the entire chewing surface of the tooth. These can be made of either plastic resin or porcelain.
The procedure involves removing decayed tooth structure or old fillings, preparing the tooth cavity, taking an impression of the cavity to fabricate a custom-fit inlay or onlay. Two visits are required to complete the treatment.
Gold Inlays
Onlays can be used to restore areas of decay or damage that are too extensive to be treated with a normal filling and can provide a less invasive, more affordable alternative to a crown. A long-lasting restorative solution, they are usually placed in teeth at the back of the mouth.
An onlay covers more of the tooth for when the repair needs to include one or more cusps (the points of the tooth), or fully cover the biting surface. They are made from hard wearing materials, including porcelain and composite resin, and if aesthetics is not an issue, gold and a metal alloy can be used to provide a particularly durable restoration.
Why have an onlay?
- Tailored to fit
- More of the healthy tooth is preserved
- Easier to keep clean
- Protect and strengthen the tooth
- More durable and stable than fillings
Porcelain onlays
Porcelain is commonly used in dental restorations as its texture and appearance is remarkably similar to enamel. Onlays meet halfway between a filling and a crown, addressing more extensive damage than a filling and not as much of the tooth needs to be removed as it does with a crown.
Metal onlays
Gold and amalgam (metal alloy) are also common materials used in dental repairs, especially onlays, due to their durabilty. Gold is especially well accepted by the mouth and has a very long life when compared to more aesthetic options.
What does the treatment involve?
- We first start with removing decay and then clean the tooth that remains.
- We take impressions or scans of the tooth so we have accurate measurements of the tooth that needs to be restored.
- The tooth is protected in the meantime with a temporary restoration.
- When ready, the onlay is checked for fit and comfort, then fixed in place with a dental adhesive
Resin onlays
We can also create onlays using composite directly onto the tooth that needs to be restored. Composite can be added in layers to gradually recreate the bite surface that was lost. Your dentist will create the onlay at the practice in a single appointment.
