Maintaining a beautiful smile with cavities is possible. More conservative than crowns but more intense than a filling, inlay and onlay restorations can revitalize your smile while looking natural. This is a great option for anyone with mild to moderate decay, or those with cracked or fractured teeth.
Dental inlays are used to fill spaces in a tooth’s surface. Onlays, sometimes referred to as partial crowns, cover more or all of a tooth’s surface area.
Inlays and onlays are extremely durable. Lasting up to 30 years, both options can strengthen teeth up to 75% unlike fillings, which can reduce a tooth’s strength. Lastly, inlays and onlays prolong tooth life and can prevent the need for further dental work.
Inlays and onlays require two appointments to apply. The first requires numbing the area and removing any decay or damage as a means to prepare. Your dentist then takes an impression of the tooth so that the inlay or onlay can be customized. A temporary restoration will be applied until your next appointment.
The second appointment involves your dentist bonding the inlay or onlay to your tooth, ensuring a perfect fit and natural look. Each visit will typically take around an hour, depending on the case.
If you’d like to learn more about inlay and onlay restorations as it applies to your dental needs, please contact our team at Country Isles Dental.