Inlays & Onlays An inlay and an onlay are both fancy names for dental fillings, and they have quite the history in the dentistry world. They are alternatives to dental fillings and dental crowns and are often used when those treatments just will not do. If a cavity is too large for a traditional filling and a crown cannot cover up a decayed tooth. Cavities can be painful and make it hard to chew. We at All Star Dental Care can help you determine which treatment is best for you and discuss the differences between crowns and these types of fillings. What are they?An Inlay and an onlay both come into play whenever cavities are too big to control and cannot be filled or covered by regular means. Inlays fill in cavities and help to replace the lost tooth structure due to decay. Originally, they were made out of gold, but today they can be made of all different materials. Some of the more common inlay materials include tooth-colored dental compote or ceramic. Whatever the material of the inlay is made out of, we can assure you that it will strengthen your tooth and help to keep it safe from structural weakness. A dental onlay does not just get stuffed inside the tooth, but also spreads out onto the top of the tooth to allow you to chew better. Much like inlays, they were once made of gold, but now can be made of any tooth-colored material. Between ceramic and gold, it is better to go with the ceramic tooth filling. Not only is it less expensive, but it also can be bonded to your damaged tooth and might further strengthen it. It is also easier to make the ceramic filling match the color of the teeth surrounding it to be undetectable. Benefits of bothInlays and Onlays are extremely durable, and they can last around 5 to 30 years before needing to be replaced. With good dental hygiene practices, they might last even longer. This also means visiting a dentist at least twice a year to ensure that the filling is still intact. Additionally, if you grind your teeth or eat too much sticky or hard food, they will need repairs more often. Which is better?If you are wondering which one to get, an inlay or a filling, an outlay or a crown, our dentists will be happy to discuss your options and break it all down for you. Onlays cover large areas of the tooth cusps, and they are typically recommended if the entire tooth does not need to be fully repaired. Inlays can fill larger cavities and are often more durable than traditional fillings, and they will also strengthen the tooth. Which repairs you need will depend on the severity of the cavity damage to your tooth and your overall mouth health. Our dentists will be able to help you determine which type of repair will work the best for you and your mouth. Come see us today and we will talk with you about how to get a repaired mouth again. Call All Star Dental Care at (808) 808-1606 to get the information you need! |
Office HoursMonday: 7:00am-7:00pm Tuesday: 7:00am-7:00pm Wednesday: 7:00am-7:00pm Thursday: 8:00am-4:00pm Friday: Closed Saturday: 7:00am-2:00pm |
