When a tooth has a cavity, a simple filling is often all that is needed. When a tooth is severely damaged or has a very large area of decay, a full dental crown that covers the entire tooth is the best solution. But what about the situations in between? What if a tooth has a cavity that is too large for a simple filling, but not damaged enough to require a full-coverage crown? For these intermediate cases, modern dentistry offers a strong, beautiful, and more conservative solution: porcelain inlays and onlays. These restorations are sometimes called “partial crowns,” and they are an excellent way to repair a tooth while preserving as much of its healthy, natural structure as possible.
What Are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations that are fabricated in a dental lab (or in-office with CEREC technology) and then bonded to the tooth. They are typically made from a strong, tooth-colored porcelain. The difference between the two lies in how much of the tooth they cover.
- A Dental Inlay: An inlay is the smaller of the two. It is designed to fit within the cusps (the pointed tips) of a tooth’s chewing surface. It is used to repair decay or damage that is located in the central part of the tooth, between the cusps.
- A Dental Onlay: An onlay is a larger restoration. It is used when the damage or decay extends to include one or more of the tooth’s cusps. An onlay will cover the damaged cusp(s) as well as the central part of the tooth. Because it covers the cusps, it is often referred to as a “partial crown.”
The Advantages of Inlays and Onlays over Other Restorations
Inlays and onlays offer several key advantages in the right situations.
- They Are More Conservative Than a Full Crown: This is their biggest benefit. To place a full crown, a significant amount of the tooth’s natural structure must be ground down to make room for the cap. To place an inlay or onlay, the dentist only needs to remove the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth. This allows you to preserve the maximum amount of your healthy, natural tooth structure, which is always the primary goal of modern dentistry.
- They Are Stronger and More Durable Than a Filling: For a very large cavity, a direct composite filling may not be strong enough to withstand the immense biting forces on a back tooth over the long term. An inlay or onlay, because it is custom-milled from a solid block of high-strength porcelain, is much more durable and can actually help to strengthen and support the remaining tooth structure.
- A Superior Fit and Seal: Because they are fabricated from a precise digital scan or physical impression of your tooth, inlays and onlays have an incredibly accurate fit. This precise fit provides an excellent seal against bacteria, which can help to prevent future decay around the restoration.
- Beautiful, Natural Aesthetics: The porcelain material can be perfectly matched to the color and translucency of your natural tooth enamel, making the restoration virtually invisible.
As the American Dental Association (ADA) notes, these restorations are an excellent and durable way to repair moderately damaged teeth.
Your Redlands Dentist for Inlays and Onlays
When it comes to restoring your teeth, a conservative approach is often the best approach. Inlays and onlays provide a strong, beautiful, and long-lasting solution that allows you to keep more of your healthy tooth structure. For patients in the Redlands, CA area, Dr. Tuan Pham is committed to using the most advanced and conservative restorative techniques. To learn if inlays and onlays are the right solution for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Tuan Pham DDS. Contact us today.
