Inlays/Onlays

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			What happens if you have a cavity that's too big to just be filled? Or if you have an old silver filling that's takes up most of the tooth and needs to be replaced?
Before		After

Inlay and onlays are different from the tooth-colored fillings in a sense that they are typically fabricated in the dental laboratory by a dental technician. The choice of materials for them varies greatly nowadays. The most popular choice is porcelain. Porcelain onlays are custom-made from the mold that the dentist takes of the prepared and shaped tooth. They are fitted onto the tooth during the following appointment and once cemented, become practically indistinguishable form the original tooth structure.

Another material that's quite popular for inlays and onlays is gold. Sometimes, based on the nature of the restoration and if function and stability take priority over appearance, gold is used primarily because of its extreme biocompatibility with teeth and being very kind to the gums. Gold onlays will not stain the teeth and because gold does not oxidize the way other metals and alloys do, it actually keeps plaque away from the teeth in which it's placed. Your gums remain healthy, there are no dark shadows around restorations, and your teeth are preserved for years to come.

Because these restorations are actually bonded onto your teeth, they last for many years, they conserve much of the natural tooth material and provide excellent functional support for biting and chewing.

If you would like to find out more about these restorations and whether they are an option for you, call us and come in for a free consultation and our team will gladly answer all of your questions.