Dental inlays and onlays are excellent options for restoring significantly damaged or decayed teeth while giving you back the smile you love. At Encinitas Family Dentistry, Dr. Gregory Skeens is here to ensure your comfort and satisfaction throughout your care.
Unlike fillings and crowns, inlays and onlays are a little lesser known but just as useful dental restorations. Some people refer to them as “lab made fillings” or “three-quarter crowns” because of the way they’re designed. Understanding the step-by-step process of getting inlays and onlays can help you choose the best treatment for your unique smile.
What are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are custom, lab-made dental restorations used to repair teeth with moderate to severe damage or decay. They are uniquely designed to fit precisely into or onto the affected tooth, providing strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Inlays are typically used to restore large voids or cavities between the cusps* of a tooth, while onlays extend beyond the cusps to cover a larger portion of the tooth.
Instead of placing a large filling that might break off of a tooth, inlays and onlays provide added reinforcement. However, they’re more conservative than full-coverage dental crowns, as they preserve additional tooth structure rather than cover the entire tooth surface.
*Cusps are the pointed, sharper edges on the chewing surfaces of back teeth.
Getting Inlays or Onlays
During your initial examination, Dr. Skeens will carefully assess the condition of your tooth, evaluating its structure, extent of damage, and overall integrity. X-rays or other diagnostic tests may be taken to aid in the diagnosis. If inlays or onlays are determined to be the most suitable restoration, Dr. Skeens will discuss the procedure in detail, including the materials to be used and the expected outcome.
During your next appointment, Dr. Skeens will numb your tooth. Then he will remove the damaged or decayed portion, creating space for the inlay or onlay. An impression or scan of the tooth is taken and sent to our dental laboratory for fabrication of your custom restoration. While your inlay or onlay is being created, Dr. Skeens will install a temporary restoration to protect your tooth from sensitivity or unnecessary wear.
About two weeks later, you’ll come back to our Encinitas dentist’s office to have the temporary restoration removed and your permanent inlay/onlay installed.
Inlays and Onlays vs. Dental Fillings
One common question we hear is how inlays and onlays differ from traditional dental fillings. Unlike fillings, which are directly placed into the tooth during a single visit, inlays and onlays are fabricated in a dental laboratory. They also protect a larger portion of your tooth. This ensures a precise fit and enables the use of stronger, more durable materials such as porcelain, composite resin, or gold.
When are Inlays and Onlays Recommended?
Inlays and onlays are recommended in cases where the tooth structure is significantly compromised, but the damage is not extensive enough to warrant a dental crown. They are best for treating teeth with moderate decay, fractures, or large cavities that cannot be effectively repaired with a smaller dental filling. Additionally, inlays and onlays can be excellent alternatives for patients who desire a more conservative approach compared to full-coverage dental crowns, as they preserve more of the tooth’s structure.
How Long Do Inlays and Onlays Last?
The longevity of inlays and onlays depends on various factors, including your oral hygiene habits and diet. On average, well-maintained inlays and onlays can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, similar to a dental crown. Be sure to brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit Encinitas Family Dentistry regularly for checkups. By doing so, you can maximize the lifespan of your existing dental work and promote better oral health in the years ahead.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you have a tooth with significant damage or decay and believe that inlays or onlays may be the ideal solution for you, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Skeens at Encinitas Family Dentistry. Call today to request your next visit!
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AT ENCINITAS FAMILY DENTISTRY
At our core, Encinitas Dentistry is a dental practice devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile. How we accomplish that goal is what makes us stand out. We mingle time-tested approaches to oral care with state-of-the-art technology and procedures to deliver beautiful, long-lasting smiles!