Tallahassee Veneers and Implants

Dental Inlays and Onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are a more conservative approach to tooth restoration than full crowns. The are used to repair rear teeth that have mild to moderate tooth decay, or for cracked teeth where the damage does not warrant a full crown.
 
Onlays are similar to crowns but more conservative.  Onlay means that the restorative material (porcelain or gold) covers one or more cusps of the tooth.  Generally, they will cover the entire surface of the tooth but not extend down to the gum line.
 
Inlays are more like a filling and fit within the tooth and do not cover any cusps.  Inlays are generally made out of porcelain. 
 
Both porcelain inlays and onlays can be made in a single visit with our CEREC CAD-CAM system.
 
What are the benefits of inlays and onlays?
Onlays are made to protect teeth that have large fillings and are likely to crack if something is not placed over the top to hold the tooth together.  By being more conservative than a crown, more natural tooth structure can be preserved.
 
Inlays can be placed instead of a large composite filling.  Because they are made out of porcelain and not composite, they are much more durable and should last considerably longer than a large composite filling.