Dental Onlays & Inlays Oklahoma City
Inlays and Onlays are used to repair damage to a tooth’s biting surface (or cusp) with a type of filling that is less invasive than a crown.
What Are Dental Inlays & Onlays?
While very similar, inlays and onlays are separated by one major difference. Inlays fit into the cusps of teeth (the part of your tooth you use for chewing) while onlays spread over the cusps, and sometimes more than one cusp if needed. They are both used to treat teeth that have undergone enough trauma to necessitate some stabilization but are not in bad enough shape to require a full dental crown or dental implant.
Unlike a crown, when a sizable portion of the tooth must be drilled away to ensure the crown will fit properly, very little removal of the tooth is needed for an inlay or onlay. Teeth that have undergone significant drilling tend to lose some of their normal strength, while teeth bonded with an inlay or onlay can sometimes see increased strength and durability.
Types of Inlays & Onlays
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Gold
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Porcelain
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Composite Resin
How are Inlays & Onlays Placed?
The application of most inlays and onlays require two visits to the office. On the first trip, the diseased or damaged portion of the tooth is removed and an impression is made. That impression is then sent off-site where the inlay or onlay is fabricated before being applied to the tooth on a second visit. Gold inlays are increasingly less popular as they can be expensive and they don’t resemble natural teeth.
In some cases, thanks to the state-of-the-art CEREC technology, porcelain inlays can be created and placed on the very same visit. CEREC’s three-dimensional scan creates a virtual mold and the porcelain filling is fabricated in office. This can save patients time and money. Pragma Dental OKC will be offering this technology in office soon. Onlays, unfortunately, cannot be milled using CEREC.
Inlays and onlays are treatments that are designed to last, provided patients are following a regular oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing. While inlays are typically slightly more expensive than fillings, they are often favored by patients for their natural appearance and longevity. Not every situation is right for an inlay or onlay, but by setting up a consultation with our Oklahoma City dental office, Pragma Dental OKC, we can help find the right path for you.