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Same-day Onlays and Inlays in our Downtown Los Angeles Dental Office
Onlays and Inlays are restorations that are used to rebuild a tooth that has lost a significant amount of its structure due to decay or trauma. Similar to dental fillings but rather than being directly placed into your tooth and then set, they are fabricated in our dental laboratory using modern CAD/CAM technology and then cemented into place. This is known as an ‘indirect procedure’. Inlays fit into the tooth whereas onlays sit on top of the remaining tooth structure.
There are a number of materials that can be used to repair damaged or decayed teeth, and in many cases structural support for back teeth can be provided by the provision of accurately fitting Porcelain Onlays or Inlays.
Like other dental fillings, porcelain fillings are used to repair a cracked, broken or otherwise damaged tooth. A porcelain onlay/ inlay is merely a very well fitting filling, made of porcelain, which has been made in a laboratory by skilled technicians.
By making onlays/ inlays in a laboratory, they are more accurately fitting, and because they are made from porcelain, they are stronger and last longer than traditional white resin fillings.
When are Porcelain Fillings Used?
Porcelain fillings – also known as ceramic fillings – are often used in areas that are under great chewing pressure, or may be used as an alternative to a crown where a greater area requires repair.
Your Dentist will assess the tooth’s health and strength, recommending whether a porcelain filling is right for the tooth.
What is the Difference Between an Inlay and an Onlay?
The inlay/ onlay is a long-term, tooth-colored cosmetic and structurally sound alternative to dark amalgam or stained and worn resin fillings. In terms of aesthetics, it is very difficult to pick an untouched tooth from a tooth with a porcelain onlay.
Porcelain is extremely biologically compatible, and possesses great strength. It provides a good balance between conservation of the remaining tooth structure, and protection for the tooth from future damage.
To learn more about porcelain fillings or to book a consultation to have your teeth checked for porcelain fillings
