The Basics of Dental Inlays and Onlays

Many people have discovered that, through the use of IV sedation, they need no longer be afraid of dental treatment. IV sedation and other sedation alternatives have helped thousands of patients overcome their dental phobia and become much happier patients. Many dentists recommend dental inlays and onlays to restore old or broken metal fillings, or teeth suffering from mild tooth decay. One of the most common treatments for replacing old or failed metal fillings or restoring mildly decayed teeth is the placement of inlays or onlays. Inlays and onlays are dental restoratives intended to address a mild to moderate amount of decay specifically in the cusps of the teeth. Inlays and onlays are dental restoration treatment when restoration is required for the cusps (pointy part) of the teeth. These are dental restorative products allow a dentist to treat a small to fair amount of decay in the teeth.

Onlays are used to restore the areas between the cusps of the damaged or decayed tooth, also using gold or porcelain, which can make them virtually undetectable with the naked eye. Onlays offer reinforcement in between the peaks of the injured tooth, and can be made from the same material as inlays and are almost unnoticeable. For the areas in between the main edges of the affected teeth, onlays made of gold or porcelain can be used and also virtually invisible. Onlays are frequently chosen to eliminate the need to remove large amounts of tooth tissue, and they can often be selected in place of dental crowns or to avoid the eventual need for a dental implant. Onlays are often preferred over dental crowns or as an alternative to implant placement because they do not require grinding down or extraction of the tooth. Onlays are often selected instead of dental crowns or as a means of delaying future implant placement, as they obviate the need for grinding down enamel from the tooth.

Benefits of inlays and onlays include that they are usually made of tooth colored materials and are therefore undetectable and more aesthetically pleasing. Inlays and onlays offer dental restoration with materials can be matched with the original tooth rendering them almost invisible and provides a visually pleasing solution. Those who choose to use inlays and onlays will have an aesthetic and virtually invisible restoration. They are unlike any filling material in that they do not expand or contract when exposed to cold or heat. They do not react to cold or heat like other filling materials. Inlays and onlays do not expand or contract under the influence of temperature variations which happens with other filling materials.This provides better support to the overall structure of the teeth. This helps better maintain the structural integrity of the tooth. This strengthens the normal structure of the teeth. They also have an average lifespan of thirty or more years. Inlays and onlays can last more than thirty years. Inlays and onlays provide a long-term restoration and have been known to last for over thirty years. Many other restorative measures may eventually require replacement or may come loose due to use or parafunctional habits, such as teeth grinding (bruxism). Inlays and onlays are unlikely to require replacement like other potential treatments. Many other restorative products may fail as a result of exposure to high or low temperatures, or to habits like teeth grinding.

Patients with a cavity between their teeth will often have an inlay recommended to them rather than a composite or amalgam filling, as they are better at completely sealing the tooth in such a tight and difficult-to-clean area. Patients are often advised to have an inlay restoration in place of a composite or amalgam filling where decay is present between teeth because an inlay can more effectively seal the area from further decay. The dentists often recommend on inlay for a patient who is discovered to have a cavity between the teeth to instead of a composite or an amalgam filling, as inlays can completely seal the cavity site even in a tight location.

Most inlays and onlays are created from a mold of the problem tooth out of gold, porcelain or resin. A mold is taken of the damaged tooth from which the gold, resin or porcelain inlay or onlay is created. Inlays and onlays are generally made out of gold, porcelain or resin pressed into a mold of the tooth being treated. The choice of material usually depends upon the area in the mouth. The selection of the material often depends upon the part of the mouth being restored. The part of the mouth being restored determines what materials should be chosen.Gold is recommended for molars as it is incredibly durable and offers better resistance to grinding and wear and tear. Gold is usually used to restore molar teeth as most of the grinding and tearing happens there and gold is extremely strong and long lasting. Gold is the material of choice for the molar teeth as they do most of the crushing and grinding in the mouth, and gold is sturdy and long-lasting. For treating teeth in the front or “smile” area, natural colored porcelains and resins are suggested. Natural looking porcelain and resins are advised in the case of inlays and onlays for the front teeth. For the teeth at front, a natural look is very important and so tooth-colored porcelain is preferred here.

The dentist fits the restoration into the tooth/teeth and ensures that the bite is comfortable before sealing and polishing it. During a second appointment, the dentist fits the inlay or onlay into its proper place and seals and polishes it after checking the level of comfort of the patient. The dentist will seal and polish the inlay or onlay only after trying it out on the patient to check the fit and ensure a normal bite. Their custom fit, durable materials and resistance to the conditions within the mouth make them the ideal choice for severely weakened or damaged teeth. Since they fit perfectly to the teeth, are made of sturdy materials, and fight the potential for corrosion within the mouth, they are ideally suited for treating seriously damaged teeth. They are an excellent option for restoring decayed or injured teeth because of their ability to fit in perfectly to teeth, the durability of their material, and their ability to withstand the conditions inside the human mouth.