Inlays & Onlays
When you have a large cavity that cannot be fixed by a simple filling, Dental Inlays and Onlays can provide the ideal solution for covering the hole – whether damaged or decayed – with a long lasting restoration.
To find out more about our range of Restorative Dentistry Services – including Dental Inlays and Onlays – contact Molonglo Dental Surgery at 02 6287 1222.
Dental Inlays and Onlays can be used for both cosmetic and restorative purposes. They can help to preserve portions of the tooth that are still healthy, when the use of an amalgam filling or composite filling fails to adequately address the problem.
At Molongo Dental Surgery, our dentists use quality materials and advanced treatment procedures to ensure that our Inlays and Onlays provide the best protection for your treated tooth – against further bacterial infection – and an aesthetic work that seamlessly fills the gap with a durable solution that does not discolour or chip easily in the future.
For more information about Inlays and Onlays, book an appointment with our Friendly Dentist in Molonglo Valley – contact Molonglo Dental Surgery at 02 6287 1222.
What are Inlays & Onlays?
Dental Inlays and Onlays provide an indirect filling method for the treatment of cavities, particularly in cases where traditional fillings – also known as direct fillings – may be inadequate for the task.
While traditional fillings still play an important role when it comes to getting quick results in the treatment of cavities, the manual procedure used by dentists to fill the cavities tends to leave room for error, which can result in further damage to the tooth enamel or a less-than-ideal chewing surface.
Considered the more conservative approach, the use of inlays and onlays is ideal for both restorative and cosmetic purposes. As opposed to a dental crown that is used to completely cover a tooth, the inlay and onlay may be used to cover only a portion of the tooth. The difference between an inlay and onlay lies in the area of the tooth they cover.
While an inlay is placed within the centre of a tooth, an onlay covers one or more of the cusps (points on the biting surfaces) of the tooth. Although they may serve as a partial crown, they are sometimes deemed as ideal substitutes for the more expensive crown restoration.
Both inlays and onlays are prepared outside the mouth – fabricated in a dental lab – before they are bonded to the affected area of the tooth. It takes approximately two dental visits to complete the inlay or onlay treatment process, from the taking of the mould of the tooth – to create a precise blueprint, from which to fabricate the prosthetic – to the final placement.
Dental inlays and onlays help to preserve the maximum amount of your healthy teeth, prevent further damage to the tooth structure, and seal the area to keep put bacteria.
Benefits of Inlays and Onlays
Modern versions of dental inlays and onlays are vastly improved iterations of their predecessors. Not only are they stronger and more durable, they also fit and bond better. They are also unobtrusive in your mouth, blending in seamlessly with the rest of your pearlies and are smaller than most tooth crowns. In the hands of a competent restorative dentist, they can be moulded to fit exactly – even fitting within incredibly tight spaces – so that they can help to stabilize the tooth and strengthen the structural integrity of the tooth.
Besides allowing for easy cleaning of teeth, the precise fit afforded by inlay/onlay restorations – as opposed to regular fillings and crowns – makes it easier to clean the tooth.
Unlike manually placed fillings, the precise fabrication of inlays and onlays make them fit snugly and closer to the tooth, hence reduce the possibility of gaps that make it difficult to clean out bacteria trapped underneath the crevices. Unlike the dental crown, inlays and onlays do not cover the entire tooth, hence makes it easier to clean deeply into the gums. Extremely strong and stable, dental inlays and onlays are akin to a tiny piece of armour suit for the tooth’s protection.
Do you have a large cavity that needs to be repaired and filled? Dental Inlays and Onlays offer the modern restorative technique to beautify and strengthen your damaged tooth.
