Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair rear teeth with mild to moderate decay or cracked and fractured teeth that are not sufficiently damaged to need a crown.
Ideal candidates for inlay or onlay work typically have too much damage or decay in the tooth structure to be successfully treated using a filling, but have sufficient healthy tooth remaining to avoid the need for a crown. This allows the dentist to conserve more of the patient’s original tooth structure.
Dental inlays and onlays are used when old fillings need to be removed or replaced.
Dental inlay is similar to a filling and fits inside the cusp tips (top edges) of the tooth.
Dental onlay is more extensive and extends over the cusps of the treated tooth.
Both blends successfully with the treated tooth and the rest of the teeth to achieve a natural, uniform appearance.