Inlays and Onlays

Before treating a damaged tooth, your dentist will perform a careful examination. The type of restoration your dentist chooses to place is dependent on the extent of damage. Minor cavities may require a filling, while teeth with more extensive damage require a crown. Those teeth that fall somewhere in between can typically benefit from an inlay or onlay. These restorations are often used to replace old fillings that have failed.

Your dentist will let you know what type of restoration you need and can help you choose the material. We can craft inlays and onlays from metals such as silver or gold, or from tooth-colored materials such as ceramic. Most patients choose tooth-colored materials because they give the restored tooth a natural, uniform appearance.

The placement of an inlay or an onlay is typically done over the course of two appointments. In your first appointment, your dentist treats your tooth by removing any decay and damaged areas. Then he will take impressions of your tooth. Our skilled technicians use these impressions to create your inlay or onlay in our on-site dental laboratory. The technician will craft your restoration from the material you choose. If you choose a tooth-colored material, the technician will ensure it matches the natural shade of your smile. Your dentist will place a temporary inlay or onlay to protect your tooth in between visits.

When your inlay or onlay is ready, you will return to our office. Your dentist will remove the temporary restoration he placed and then secure your custom-made inlay or onlay in place. He will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the restoration fits precisely with your bite.

At Boston Prosthodontics Dental Group, we believe in choosing the most conservative approach available. By choosing more conservative methods, we can preserve more of your natural tooth, which is better for your overall oral health. Putting a large filling in a tooth can actually weaken its structure and could lead to a broken tooth or a future root canal. Dental crowns require us to remove a larger portion of the natural tooth, making them less than ideal for teeth with moderate damage. With an inlay or onlay, we only need to remove the damaged portions, so we can save more of your tooth.