Most people are familiar with the idea of a dental filling, and many will have at least one or two of these restorations, but far fewer will know what an Inlay or onlay is and when they are used. Both are a type of dental filling used to repair back teeth; these are your premolars and molars.

Why Do Back Teeth Often Get Cavities?

These teeth are designed to help grind and chew food thoroughly so that you can swallow food more easily and extract maximum nutrition from the food. To enable them to grind food effectively, they have many intricate grooves and fissures. These can easily trap food particles and bacteria, so the chewing surfaces of back teeth are far more prone to Tooth decay.

An ordinary filling may be sufficient to restore the tooth when you have a small to a moderate-sized cavity. However, when the cavity is larger, this isn’t always possible. An ordinary filling wouldn’t be strong enough to restore the tooth properly, leaving it at risk of cracking or crumbling as you chew food. This is when our dentist in Oshawa may suggest an inlay or onlay.

The Difference between an Inlay and an Onlay

An inlay is the smaller of the two restorations as it only restores the central part of the chewing surface. An onlay is larger because it can restore the central part of the chewing surface and any tooth cusps that may be damaged. These tooth cusps are the raised or pointed parts of the tooth on the inner and outer edges.

What Are the Advantages of Having an Inlay or Onlay?

Both these restorations are precision made outside of the mouth using an impression of the tooth. The result is a restoration that fits extremely well inside the tooth so that once bonded into the tooth, it creates a tight seal that prevents further infection and decay. Although a little more expensive than an ordinary filling, an inlay or onlay will last longer. They are extremely hard-wearing, can be made from a tough, durable porcelain, and should last for many years. An inlay or onlay in Whitby will also look beautiful. The porcelain will be in a shade that closely matches your natural tooth, so once you have your new restoration, the result should be virtually invisible.

What is the Process for an Inlay or Onlay?

The process for having an inlay or onlay at Margolian Dentistry is very straightforward. Before we begin treatment, we will thoroughly numb your tooth, ensuring you feel as comfortable as possible during this procedure. Our dentist will carefully shape the cavity in preparation for the inlay or onlay, removing only the damaged portions of the tooth and leaving all the healthy structure intact.

The next stage is to take an impression of the tooth. We use a tiny handheld scanner that takes a digital dental impression in Ajax. The process is far more comfortable than a tray impression, where you must remain still for several minutes while the goopy impression material sets. A digital dental impression is also extremely accurate.

Our dentist can check the digital impression immediately to ensure the cavity preparation looks good before sending the scan to our dental lab. We can then fabricate your inlay or onlay, sometimes while you wait. The inlay or onlay can be made from a solid block of porcelain material before being hand-finished, creating a natural-looking appearance. The final stage of treatment is to try the restoration in the prepared cavity and make sure it fits accurately before cementing it permanently in place.

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