What’s the Difference Between Inlays and Onlays?

Comprehensive Dental Restorations: Understanding Inlays and Onlays

When it comes to restoring your oral health and improving the appearance of your smile, inlays and onlays are excellent dental restoration options that you may not be as familiar with as crowns or veneers. These custom-made restorations are designed to fill cavities or repair damaged teeth in ways that preserve more of your natural tooth structure compared to traditional fillings.

At Dental Studios in Summit and Westfield, New Jersey, we offer advanced cosmetic dentistry procedures, including inlays and onlays, to help our patients maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between dental inlays and dental onlays, how they work, and why they might be the right solution for your dental treatment needs.

What Are Dental Inlays?

Dental inlays are restorations used to treat moderate tooth decay or repair damaged teeth that don’t require a full crown but still need more attention than a simple filling. Inlays are typically made from composite resin, gold, or porcelain, and are custom-designed to fit your tooth’s natural shape and tooth structure. The material used to create inlays blends with your natural teeth, making them a popular choice for patients who want an aesthetic result.

Unlike traditional fillings, which are applied directly into the cavity, inlays are created in a dental lab and then placed over the cavity’s surface. Dental inlays work best for small to medium-sized cavities that affect the tooth surface, especially when the decay is confined to the tooth enamel and does not affect the underlying structure.

What Are Dental Onlays?

Dental onlays are used to treat more extensive tooth damage that goes beyond the top surface of the tooth, extending to the edges or side surfaces. In cases of severe tooth decay or damage to natural teeth, onlays offer a more substantial restoration option compared to inlays. While inlays only cover the inside surface of the tooth, onlays cover a larger area, often including the chewing surface and the sides of the tooth.

Like inlays, onlays are crafted in a dental lab based on a mold of your existing tooth. Once created, they are securely bonded to your natural tooth to restore its appearance, strength, and function. Dental onlays are ideal when the tooth structure is too damaged for a filling but doesn’t require a full crown.

How Are Inlays and Onlays Applied?

Both inlays and onlays require two visits to your dentist’s office. During the first visit, your dentist will clean and prepare the damaged tooth by removing any decayed tissue. The tooth surface is then shaped to accommodate the inlay or onlay, and an impression is taken. You’ll be given a temporary filling to protect your tooth until your permanent restoration is ready.

At the second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary onlay or temporary crown and permanently place the inlay or onlay. The restoration is securely bonded to your natural tooth structure with a strong dental adhesive, and the tooth is shaped and polished to fit seamlessly with your existing teeth.

The Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays offer several advantages over traditional fillings and crowns. These restorations are highly durable and are designed to withstand everyday chewing and biting forces. With proper care, inlays and onlays can last for many years, and in some cases, up to 30 years. Their ability to preserve more of your natural tooth enamel and restore a healthy tooth structure makes them an excellent choice for those looking for long-term solutions.

Additionally, inlays and onlays are color-matched to your existing teeth, making them an excellent option for anyone looking for a more natural-looking solution. Their custom-made design also ensures that the restoration fits comfortably and blends seamlessly with the rest of your natural teeth.

When Should I Consider Inlays or Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are ideal for patients who have moderate to severe tooth decay or damaged teeth but want to avoid more invasive treatments like crowns. They are especially beneficial for patients with small cavities or damaged teeth that don’t require a full crown but still need more extensive repair than a traditional filling can provide.

For individuals with severe tooth decay, gum disease, or significant damage to their teeth, full mouth reconstruction may be necessary. Your dentist will help determine the right solution based on the level of tooth damage and your oral health.

Contact our Summit office at (908) 520-7271 or our Westfield location at (908) 490-6185, or complete our contact form to schedule your consultation. The Dental Studio is an excellent choice for family and children’s dentistry as well as senior dental care.

inlays?

Inlays function in much the same way as fillings. Made from composite materials, fillings are pressed into the cavity in your tooth to prevent bacteria or plaque from building up inside that space. 

Inlays are made from lab-manufactured composite materials and colored to match your existing teeth. We use inlays instead of a filling when you have a cavity that affects the top surface of a tooth and is too large for a regular filling. 

Aside from cavity repair, we can also use inlays to save a cracked tooth or repair other damage on the top surface of your tooth. 

To begin the process of applying an inlay, your Dental Studios provider first takes an impression of your tooth. We then send it to a lab to fabricate an inlay that fits the shape of the part of the tooth being treated. 

What are onlays?

Similar to inlays, we use onlays to treat damage that affects a bigger area of your tooth, and they extend beyond the top surface, including the edges or side surfaces of a tooth. If possible, your dentist may recommend an onlay rather than a crown, which covers the entire visible surface of your natural tooth.

The process of making an onlay is the same as an inlay, starting with getting an impression made in our office that we send to a lab to create a custom-fitted onlay that blends with your natural teeth.

How are inlays and onlays applied?

Inlays and onlays are placed over two dental visits. At the first visit, your dentist cleans the tooth and surrounding area, preparing it for the inlay or onlay and taking the impression. Your dentist fills your tooth temporarily until your next visit.

At the second visit, your dentist permanently places the inlay or onlay with a strong dental adhesive. Then we shape the surface for a natural and comfortable fit, blending in with the rest of your teeth. 

Inlays and onlays look completely natural, almost indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Extremely durable, inlays and onlays can last for up to 30 years with no additional care needed beyond good dental hygiene and regular dental checkups. 

Can inlays and onlays help me?

The only way to determine if an inlay or onlay is the appropriate treatment for your dental condition is through a consultation with a dental care provider. 

At Dental Studios, one of our dentists evaluates your teeth and dental history to determine the best course of action. Our team always treats you with personalized care and makes customized treatment recommendations. 

Are inlays or onlays the solution to your dental troubles? The experts at Dental Studios in New Jersey can help. Call our team to schedule your consultation or book online now.