Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are tooth restorations that treat minor to significant damage. Through the use of porcelain as our restoration material, our inlays and onlays provide a cosmetic dentistry option that improves the look of the tooth as much as the structure.

Local Gahanna, OH residents can come to Creekside Family Dental to solve tooth damage and restore their teeth.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are tooth restorations that bring back the full function of a tooth after it has experienced damage. They provide our practice with a conservative treatment method that allows us to fix a problem while also helping a patient keep the natural tooth.

By using this treatment method, we can avoid resorting to more extensive dental work like dental crowns. Nonetheless, we inform you of your choices and give you the autonomy to make your own dental decisions.

These two types of restorations are grouped together because they are used for the same purpose, with only a slight difference. Both inlays and onlays fill in the impacted parts within a molar and the middle of the top surface, while onlays also cover some or all of the cusps that top the teeth. Onlays can be used for larger and more significant areas of damage.

When Are Inlays and Onlays Used?

Our dentist, Dr. Will Leffler, may rely on inlays to solve minor tooth damage. He could use this treatment to replace a part of the tooth ruined by chips, cracks, breaks or tooth decay. It also offers a solution for a filling replacement. On the other hand, Dr. Leffler may choose an onlay when the damage is more severe and impacting a larger surface area.

Inlays and onlays are good solutions when dental bonding is not enough to solve tooth damage or when a filling is defective. They also give a simpler and more affordable option to dental crowns, and allow you to keep more of your natural tooth. You may hear these restorations referred to as partial crowns because they cover part of the biting surface without covering the entire tooth like a crown.

When porcelain is used as the inlay or onlay material of choice, it fits the goals of cosmetic dentistry. This means it allows us to create the best aesthetic appearance through a tooth colored material, while it also fixes the problem and restores the tooth structure.

How Are Inlays and Onlays Placed?

The process begins after our dentist performs an exam and talks to you about your options. If you choose inlays or onlays, or he recommends them as the best option for the situation, this restoration process is a quick and easy one that takes place during one visit.

You have a choice of materials, which we can discuss with you in advance. While you may pick metal or composite resin, most patients and dentists favor porcelain. This material blends in well with the look and sheen of real teeth, and it provides strength and durability. We can color-match it to perfectly fit in with the rest of the teeth for the best smile possible.

We begin by preparing your tooth. This process includes removing damaged parts of the tooth and cleaning the area. The inlay or onlay is created to custom-fit your tooth, and then Dr. Leffler places it into the space he has made in the tooth. He may provide adjustments to gain the best fit and bite, after which he uses a resin to permanently bond the restoration in place.

Make a Consultation Appointment

Our dentist can perform an exam to see whether inlays or onlays could conservatively solve your tooth damage.

Contact our office team to make your appointment.