COSMETIC DENTISTRY – ALL ABOUT ONLAYS AND INLAYS

Repairing those rear teeth that suffer from moderate, or even mild levels of decay, cosmetic dentistry uses onlays and inlays as restorative procedures. In cases where the dental damages are not severe enough to require restorative procedures, these two or used to repair fractured or cracked teeth.

Composite resin, and just plain old gold sometimes, as well as porcelain are used in the onlays and inlays of today. Fillings for both of these are often used to replace the old metal fillings, and can be made from tooth-colored materials, much the same other of today’s cosmetic dental procedures.

Inlays

Aside from replacing old metal fillings, today’s dental inlays are for treating damaged or decayed teeth inside the indentions of their top surfaces.

This simple procedure is completed in two separate sessions, with the placement of a temporary inlay after making an impression of your teeth in the first visit. In order to construct an inlay that matches your personal dental specifications.

The removal of your temporary inlay and placing the permanent one over your teeth, is done in the second visit. Immediately after the process is finished, you would be able to resume your normal activities like work, with only some mild tenderness.

Onlays

Dental onlays are used to treat decays which extend over one or more tooth cusps (top projections), where inlays are used to treat them within just one cusp, and they are placed in much the same manner.

These dental inlay treatments are completed in two sessions. The permanent placement is made in the second session, after the teeth impressions are made in the first.

These are made almost undetectable to the human eye from materials tooth-colored. Since minimal removal of tooth surface is required during the process of bonding, inlays help conserve more original tooth structure.

Benefits

The avoidance of more extensive dental treatments that use costly implants, bridges and crowns is just about the biggest benefit for onlays and inlays both.

Since repeated changes in tooth size, regardless of how small, will eventually weaken the affected tooth to the point of fracture, the use of onlays and inlays do not contract or expand with cold or hot food consumption, like the old metal fillings.

Beauty and Strength

They also help strengthen teeth as much as 75% over their original strength, due to their custom-fitted construction. When compared with the lifespan of regular fillings, the more durable material of inlays and onlays last much longer, up to 30 years!

Dental onlays and inlays offer a much more natural looking finish than metal fillings. Moreover, they can be constructed with a durable, tooth-colored porcelain.

Their customized construction can also allow a dentist to bond them securely to the surface of the tooth, which adds structural strength to the tooth. This prevents cavities from forming all over again, and bacteria from entering the tooth.

These onlays and inlays are a superior manner in which to help keep your teeth looking natural and restored.