Dental Inlays and Onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair rear teeth that have a mild to moderate amount of decay. They can also be used to restore teeth that are cracked or fractured if the damage is not severe enough to require a dental crown.

Inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain, composite resin, and sometimes even from gold. Because they can be created from tooth-colored materials, inlays and onlays are often used to replace metal dental fillings for patients who desire a more natural looking smile. Read on to find out about how inlays and onlays may be able to enhance your smile’s health and appearance.

Dental Inlays

Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that have decay or damage lying within their indented top surfaces, between the cusps of the teeth. They can also be used to replace old or damaged metal fillings. Inlay placement is usually carried out over two appointments. During your first visit to the dentist, an impression of your tooth will be taken, and a temporary inlay will be placed over the tooth. The dentist will send the impression off to a dental lab, which will create the inlay to match your tooth's specifications. When you return to the dentist's office, the temporary inlay will be removed and the permanent one will be placed carefully over your tooth. There is no downtime after receiving a dental inlay, only a mild level of tenderness in the treated area, so you can return to work or other activities as soon as you leave the office.

Since dental inlays and onlays can be made from durable, tooth-colored porcelain, they offer much more enduring and natural-looking results than metal fillings. In addition, their customized nature allows dentists to securely bond them to the tooth surface, adding structural integrity and preventing bacteria from entering and forming cavities.

Dental Onlays

Whereas dental inlays are designed to treat decay within the cusps, or top projections, of a tooth, onlays are used to treat decay that extends to one or more of the cusps. Onlays are placed in much the same way as inlays. First, an impression of the decayed tooth is taken, and a temporary onlay is placed over the tooth. The impression is then sent to a lab, where a dental technician creates the onlay according to the tooth’s dimensions. When the patient returns to the dentist's office, the temporary onlay is removed, and the permanent restoration is placed on the tooth and securely bonded using high-strength dental resins.

Like dental inlays, onlays can be created from tooth-colored material, which makes them virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Onlays also help to conserve more tooth structure because their use requires minimal removal a tooth’s surface. Perhaps their most important benefit, however, is that, in saving damaged teeth, onlays help patients avoid the eventual need for more extensive treatment with dental crowns, dental bridges, or dental implants.

Inlays/Onlays Benefits and Risks

In treating dental decay, inlays and onlays help to eliminate tooth sensitivity and eventual tooth loss. Further, they are associated with few serious side effects and risks. Patients may experience some tooth sensitivity for a couple of days after treatment. Read more about the risks and benefits of inlays and onlays.

Inlays/Onlays Cost and Financing

The cost of porcelain inlays and onlays depends on the dentist’s training and the expense of the dental lab. Visit our inlays and onlays cost and financing page for detailed information about treatment pricing and payment options.

Consult a Dentist near You

Because of their strength, durability, and aesthetic quality, porcelain inlays and onlays are excellent solutions for larger cases of tooth decay. If you would like to find out whether you could benefit from an inlay or onlay, DocShop can provide you with a list of dentists in your area who would be happy to help.