What are onlays and inlays?
Onlays and inlays are essentially indirect dental fillings that are made up of solid materials such as ceramics, gold, or composite resin that can be fitted and bonded into place, typically to restore a cavity. At Drs. Lerner and Lemongello’s dental office in Palm Beach, Florida, onlays and inlays are differentiated based on the coverage it provides the tooth or teeth. An inlay is similar to a dental filling. It only rests on the grooves and bumps of the chewing surface of each tooth and in between the cusps.
An onlay extends over the chewing surfaces and goes over the cusps, or raised portions of the tooth. In fact, dental crowns are just onlays that completely covers the surface of a tooth. Onlays and inlays are indirect dental restorations that reinforce an existing tooth that is too damaged to support a filling, but not damaged enough to require a crown.
What are the types of onlays and inlays?
Depending on the severity of the condition, the dentist may have the option to use indirect onlays and inlays.
- Indirect onlays and inlays are fabricated separately in a dental laboratory and may need up to two visits for complete placement
What is involved in the procedure of getting onlays and inlays?
- For indirect onlays and inlays, the decayed portion of the tooth will be completely removed and an impression of this tooth, and the surrounding teeth, will be taken. A temporary onlay or inlay will be placed over the tooth while the impressions are sent to the laboratory where the restorations will be fabricated. When the patient comes back for the second visit, the temporary is removed and the fabricated onlays and inlays will be cemented onto the tooth, polished and shaped to get the perfect fit.
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