As cavities are always unique and different, it means that the solution to address cavities should also be customized. Minor cavities can be addressed by doctors through fillings, while major ones will require dental crowns. But how can you address the cavities that are in between mild and severe? This is where dental inlays and dental onlays come into the picture. Let’s discuss everything you need to know about dental inlays and onlays, as mentioned by murray hill cosmetic dentistry.
- Dental Inlays: If your tooth decay cannot be addressed with simple traditional fillings, your dentist can consider dental inlays. The dental inlays are a solid and single piece of ceramic porcelain that fits as per the exact shape and size of your cavity. The dentist will use special dental cement to secure the inlays in place. The modern ones are made of porcelain and are more long-lasting, durable, and wear-resistant.
- Dental Onlays: The dental onlays are a step between a dental crown and a dental inlay. Dental onlay is a large-scale treatment over the inlay and is perfect for patients who need single-tooth restorations. The onlays are also perfect for large tooth decays that cannot be treated effectively with traditional filling or inlays, as too much of the surrounding structure should be removed for the procedure. Dental onlays are designed to cover the outer area of your tooth rather than just sitting between the cusps.
- What Can You Expect: Dental onlays and inlays share multiple similarities. For instance, the dentist will remove decay from your tooth through both these procedures. They will implement any of the techniques mentioned earlier to fill the tooth decay and protect the tooth from further damage. However, the difference between dental onlays and inlays is how the dentists fill the spaces. If you choose a traditional filling, your dentist will consider using a composite material to fill the cavity-infected space. This process is quick and can be completed in one visit. However, dental onlays and inlays would require additional steps.
- Benefits of Dental Inlays and Onlays: Due to their primary porcelain material, dental inlays are tougher and perfect for rugged dental restorations. Thanks to their durability, normal chewing won’t cause breakage in them or cause them to shift position. Another great benefit of dental inlays and onlays is that the porcelain is a more natural-looking and eye-catching material than the traditional filling.
The perfect candidates for dental inlays and onlays would be patients who have more complicated tooth decay that cannot be addressed with traditional filling. Your tooth structure should support the restoration perfectly to leverage the best benefits of inlays and onlays.
