Dental inlays and onlays are a medium between dental crowns and fillings implicated on teeth at the back of the mouth that has suffered a moderate level of decay. They can be made of composite material, gold, or tooth—colored porcelain. This type of dental product is bonded into place around the cusps. Onlays are used to cover one cusp or more, whereas dental in|ays tend to be used more as a filling between the cusps An onlay is sometimes also referred to as a partial crown.

Inlays and onlays are applied in at least two dental visits. At the first visit, the old filling, or decayed tooth tissue is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay/ onlay. The dentist will then make an impressian of the tooth, and send this impression to a dental laboratory. This impression will be used by the laboratory to construct a custom—made composite, porcelain, or gold inlay / onlay. At this time the dentist will place a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule a second appointment.

Your following appointment will involve the actual application of the inlay or onlay onto thenecessary teeth. The inlay or onlay is carefully positioned so it matches the exact shape of the tooth.
Once in position, your dentist will then work on permanently binding the inlay or onlay onto the tooth. This inlay/onlay is then polished

As the procedure of obtaining a dental inlay or onlay requires the removal of tooth as well as dental shaping, there is bound to be some degree of pain. However, your dentist is able to minimise this by injecting a local anaesthetic.

Dental inlays and onlays can potentially last for decades, but their lifetime depend on a number of factors such as how forceful chewing is as well as choice of food, the level of Care that is taken by the patient for the inlays or onlays as well as the oral hygiene routine of the patient. It is also important that the dentist is visited regularly to make sure that the inlays and onlays are intact.

Our clinic offers GC Gradia for composite, and Emax Press for porcelain inlays/onlays.