PORCELAIN INLAYS AND ONLAYS are conservative cosmetic restorations crafted in a dental lab. They are used to repair moderate to large decay as well as cracked or fractured teeth and to replace large failing silver amalgam fillings whose damage is  not severe enough to require a full coverage crown.

What is the difference between and inlay and an onlay?

Inlays are used to restore defects that do not include the cusps of the tooth. Onlays are used when the defect extend to one or more cusps.

How are inlays and onlays made?

These restorations are usually done in two appointments. On the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the tooth under local anesthesia to receive the restoration making sure that all decay and defects are removed. An impression of the prepared tooth and its adjacent teeth as well as those in the opposite jaw is then taken after which a provisional restoration is placed to protect the tooth. The impression is sent to the lab for fabrication of the restoration following the dentist's prescription to produce a restoration closely matching the natural tooth. On the second appointment, the provisional restoration is removed and the restoration is carefully fitted and adjusted to occlusion. Then it is bonded to the tooth using dental resin cement.

Advantages of inlays and onlays

These restorations are crafted with tooth colored porcelain following the prescription of the dentist. Therefore, they are virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Since they do not require radical tooth reduction, they conserve more of the natural tooth structure making them a strong and a highly aesthetic restoration.