Inlays & Onlays Inlays and onlays may be a procedure that can help to restore a tooth back to its original condition after it has been damaged and may even be able to add some strength to the tooth. These are often considered more conservative compared to using a crown because our professionals will not need to remove the healthy structure of your tooth. Our team at Robert F. Walker Jr. DDS is happy to discuss whether a dental inlay or onlay will be the right decision for you. How are Inlays and Onlays Different?Both of these procedures are done in the lab before a dental professional bonds them to the decayed or damaged tooth. The difference of using one or the other will depend on how much of the structure of your tooth is lost due to wear or decay. Our dental professionals are happy to help you decide which option is the best for you. For an inlay, this option will fit within the grooves on the cusps of the teeth. The onlay, which is a little larger, will be able to fit into the grooves as well, but then also wraps up and over the cusps to cover up the surface. An onlay is a good option to use when the damage to the tooth is more extensive and the restoration is able to cover the entire chewing surface of that tooth if necessary. What is the Procedure for Getting an Inlay or Onlay?The procedure to place both of these will be about the same. There are two dental visits with one of our professionals to get the work done. During the first visit, we will be able to prepare the tooth. This includes removing the decayed or the damaged part found on the tooth. Our team will only remove as much as necessary on the tooth to restore it. After all of the damage or decay has been removed, our dental team will take a mold of the affected tooth to send into a dental lab to have the inlay or onlay made. During the second visit, our dental professional can put the inlay or onlay onto the tooth. This will not take long and you will be able to resume normal activities afterward. You should use caution when eating or drinking for a few days after to be safe with the new restoration to your tooth. How We Can HelpAt Robert F. Walker Jr. DDS, we value your oral care and want to do everything we can to help make this a reality for your health. When you are ready to set up an appointment to see if dental inlays and onlays are right for you, contact us at (602) 782-4856. |
