Inlays & Onlays

What are they?

Similar to fillings, inlays or onlays are used to restore a tooth’s integrity and function following damage. The difference being that, whereas a standard filling is applied directly into/onto your tooth and hardens in your mouth, inlays and onlays are custom-made in the laboratory and then cemented in place.

• Inlays or Onlays are a popular alternative to fillings especially when the decay damage to a tooth is more extensive.

• The inlay / onlay is created in a dental laboratory ensuring strength, allowing the inlay / onlay to last much longer than conventional fillings.

• A conventional filling is a soft material moulded into shape of the tooth before being
  set hard whereas inlays and onlays are created outside the mouth to a model of your tooth. An inlay sits in the hole of the tooth to give it strength whilst the onlay sits on top to build the shape of the tooth. These are bonded to your tooth during the procedure using a strong adhesive and then polished to perfect the smooth and natural appearance.

• A damaged tooth can be painful and uncomfortable to deal with and when a conventional filling isn’t sufficient for strength, then your dentist could recommend the use of Inlays and Onlays.

• There are a range of materials to construct inlays and onlays: gold, porcelain and composite. Your dentist will explain the advantages and advise on which one is best for your tooth.