Whenever you eat, every tooth takes on a large amount of work. Over time, those surfaces can become damaged. Once half of the surface of your teeth is damaged, we generally recommend that it is time to get an inlay or
What Are Inlays & Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are materials that are bonded to the teeth, which cover a damaged portion of the surface used to bite. This material is made out of composite resin, gold or even porcelain. Inlays have their name because they are placed within the cusps of the edges of your teeth. On the other hand, onlays are placed over one or more of the cusps of a tooth. Onlays usually act as a more significant fix than inlays.
Choosing The Right Material
If you choose to have inlays or onlays, Dr. Vazira will ask which type of material you prefer. Porcelain is a favorite type of material because of its strength and how well it handles different types of oral conditions. Porcelain also mimics shades of natural teeth extremely well. Whatever material you select, you can rest assured knowing you will be well-informed by Dr. Vazira on both the material’s advantages and disadvantages before going through with the procedure.
What To Expect
Two appointments are required to get inlays and onlays correctly applied. The first appointment is all about preparing the tooth. The decaying or damaged part of your tooth is analyzed, cleaned and then prepped for either the inlay or onlay. Measurements are always taken by a tooth impression to make sure your inlay or onlay is a perfect fit.
On the second visit, we make sure the inlay or onlay is a proper fit. Once the proper fit is confirmed, Dr. Vazira will bond the inlay or onlay to the tooth and polish the area around it.