Inlays and Onlays: Conservative and Affordable
When teeth become mild to moderately damaged by decay, inlays and onlays can help protect them from further damage, helping you to achieve and maintain a happier, healthier smile. Inlays and onlays are a great alternative to dental crowns, which require significant alteration of the tooth’s structure. At Smile Montreal in Quebec, Drs. Charles and Patrick Casey use only the highest quality materials to craft these custom restorations, so your smile is not only healthier, but more natural-looking as well.
What are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are conservative and custom-made dental restorations. While both are used to address mild to moderate decay, whether you need an inlay or an onlay depends on what part of the tooth is affected. Inlays are used when the deep grooves in your back molars are decayed. Onlays, on the other hand, are used when the protruding parts of the molars, or the cusps, are decayed or damaged.
How Inlays and Onlays Differ From Fillings
Fillings are only an option when cavities are small. As cavities increase in size, larger restorations are needed to repair the tooth. While dental crowns are an option, the process involves removing a significant portion of the healthy tooth structure in addition to the decay. Inlays and onlays allow us to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.
Uses of these Restorations
While inlays and onlays are primarily used to repair teeth with mild to moderate decay, we can also use these restorations to replace old metal or damaged fillings. Since metal fillings require more space than modern composite resin fillings, a resin filling is not always sufficient in replacing them.
When teeth become mild to moderately damaged by decay, inlays and onlays can help protect them from further damage, helping you to achieve and maintain a happier, healthier smile.
Since inlays and onlays are customized to perfectly fit your teeth, we must take impressions after removing all decay. These impressions are then used by our dental lab to craft your restoration, which may take a couple weeks. To protect your tooth in between visits, we can place a temporary prosthetic. Once we receive the final product from the lab, you can return for a second visit so we can place your permanent restoration.
After your inlay or onlay is in place, it should blend seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. To care for your inlays and onlays, you should establish a good oral hygiene regimen, brush and floss your teeth as directed, and make and keep regular dental appointments. We will check your restorations at these appointments to ensure they are protecting your teeth as they should. With proper care, inlays and onlays can last for decades.
Safe and Beautiful Materials
Inlays and onlays can be crafted from a wide range of materials, but most patients prefer porcelain or composite resin, as these look the most natural. Since they are smaller than dental crowns and require less alteration of the existing tooth structure, these restorations are generally more affordable. In just two office visits, your tooth could be restored with a beautiful restoration that protects it from further damage and decay.
Schedule an Appointment
If you notice any sensitivity or pain in a particular tooth, you may have a cavity or decay that needs to be addressed. Call Smile Montreal at (514) 937-6558 or contact our office online to find out which type of restoration you will need to repair your tooth.
