INLAYS & ONLAYS

When a cavity in a tooth is very deep it can be a concern that to restore the missing tooth with a composite filling could lead to irritation of the nerve of the tooth and hence a possible root treatment. In these situations and ones where a lot of the tooth tissue is lost, it is preferable to replace the lost tooth tissue with an inlay or an onlay.

These are ceramic/porcelain restorations that are made by a dental technician from a mould that is taken of the prepared tooth. They are fitted at a second appointment and restore form and function. They are very useful in cases of high wear and heavy wear to limit the amount of future damage to the tooth.

Inlays and onlays are usually constructed in porcelain but occasionally the are made from gold which has great wear characteristics as well as being extremely bio-compatible.