When over half of your tooth’s biting surface is damaged, a dentist will often use an inlay or onlay.
Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. These pieces are bonded to the damaged area of your tooth. An inlay (which is similar to a filling) is used inside the cusp tips of your tooth. An onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay, but extending out over one or more of the cusps of your tooth.
Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. In recent years, however, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and color that can potentially match the natural color of your teeth.
Inlays and onlays require two appointments to complete the procedure. At your first appointment, the filling being replaced or the damaged or decaying area of your tooth is removed, and your tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, an impression of your tooth will be taken and sent to a lab for fabrication. One of our Doctors will then apply a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule the next appointment.
At your second appointment, the temporary sealant is removed. One of our Doctors will then make sure that the inlay or onlay fits correctly. If the fit is satisfactory, the inlay or onlay will be bonded to your tooth with a strong resin and polished to a smooth finish.
Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. As an alternative, since inlays and onlays are bonded directly onto your tooth using special high-strength resins, they can actually increase the strength of your tooth by up to 75 percent. As a result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases where the damage to your tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.