Inlays & Onlays in Irving, TX
Inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations that repair teeth with damage too large for a filling but not severe enough for a crown. At DFW Dental & Orthodontics in Irving, they're a conservative option that keeps more of your healthy tooth structure, usually in two visits.
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.
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What Are Inlays and Onlays?
Though traditional dental fillings are a great option for patients with minor tooth decay, what are the options for restoring a tooth with significant damage? Inlays and onlays, also known as indirect fillings, are a wonderful option of restoring a tooth with significant decay; they preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure compared to a crown, and compared to a large filling they can actually strengthen the tooth!
Large fillings will actually weaken a tooth’s structure, greatly increasing the risk of the tooth breaking, cracking, and eventually requiring extensive restorative treatment such as root canal therapy. And if a good amount of healthy tooth structure is still intact, a crown would needlessly require a large amount of the tooth to be removed.
What is the difference between inlays and onlays? Simply put, inlays fit “in” the tooth while onlays fit “on” the tooth; inlays fill the space in between a tooth’s cusps (biting surfaces), while onlays, required for more extensively damaged teeth, spread over the cusps or the entire biting surface of the tooth.
The Procedure​
Unlike traditional fillings which are placed in one visit, inlays and onlays typically require two visits. During the first visit, our doctors will take an impression of the tooth, which will be sent to a dental lab to create the inlay or onlay, and a temporary filling material will be placed on the tooth. During the second visit, the temporary filling will be removed and the custom-made indirect filling will be cemented into place, resulting in a strong, stable and natural-looking restored tooth.​
DFW Dental & Orthodontics
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What's the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
An inlay fits inside the grooves between the cusps of a tooth. An onlay is larger and covers one or more cusps.
Q. Why choose an inlay or onlay instead of a crown?
Inlays and onlays are less invasive than crowns and preserve more of your healthy tooth. They're stronger than a large filling, which can weaken a tooth over time.
Q. How many visits does an inlay or onlay take?
Usually two. At the first visit, your dentist prepares the tooth, takes an impression for the lab and places a temporary filling. At the second, the inlay or onlay is bonded in place.