What Are Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are partial crowns. They are used when there is still enough healthy tooth that a full crown is not required. An inlay or onlay is a restoration that replaces the missing or broken portion of the tooth to help increase its strength. This piece can be fabricated out of porcelain, gold, or of a composite type material.
What To Expect
An inlay or onlay generally takes two to three appointments to fabricate. We begin with local anesthesia and remove any decay and old restorations, and we then properly prepare any missing tooth structure. We will take an accurate impression, which will be sent to our lab where your restoration will be fabricated. While this tooth is being fabricated, we will place a temporary restoration that will resemble your natural tooth.
At your second visit we will try in, adjust and polish the inlay or onlay before placement of your final restoration. The final step is to cement the inlay/onlay into your mouth, leaving you with a beautifully restored smile.