Onlays and inlays, restorations for teeth that are too damaged for fillings but not so badly damaged to need a crown, can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. Gold inlays are used between the cusp tips of the teeth, while composite resin inlays are placed in between the cusps. The difference between the two is how much of the area between cusps they cover — an onlay extends over one or more cusps of the tooth. In recent times, porcelain is becoming the material of choice for inlays and onlays because it is strong and can potentially match the natural color of your teeth.
The placing of inlays and onlays necessitates two appointments. The tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay during the first visit, and the filling or damaged or decayed region of the tooth is removed. A dental impression is taken of the tooth and submitted to a facility where the inlay or onlay is custom manufactured for optimal fit and bite. A temporary sealant will be applied to the tooth and the dentist will schedule the next appointment.
Following the removal of the temporary sealant during the second appointment, the dental team will ensure that the inlay or onlay fits well on the tooth. Once the inlay or onlay fits correctly, it is bonded into place with strong resin, and the finish is polished to have a smooth appearance.
Conventional fillings can weaken a healthy tooth's durability by upwards of 50 percent. Inlays and onlays, which are bonded firmly to the tooth with relatively elevated resins, can actually boost a tooth's toughness by up to 75 percent. As a result, they could last for as long as ten to thirty years. As mentioned onlays can be an excellent alternative to crowns when the damage to the tooth isn't severe enough.
Inlays and onlays are advantageous as they help to retain even more of your original tooth structure. This makes your teeth a lot easier to clean. Some restorations, such as composite and conventional fillings, may atrophy over time as well. Inlays and onlays are exceedingly resilient and they do not degrade.
We offer expert dental inlays and onlays procedures by our experienced professional dentist Pooya Soltanzadeh, DDS, MS, DABP. For more details call us at (714) 974-0949, book online, or visit Dentist Anaheim Hills at 8101 E Kaiser Blvd Suite 120, Anaheim Hills, CA 92808.
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