To repair
damage to the tooth’s biting surface,
rather than using a simple filling, or a
crown, a dentist will often use an
inlay, or an onlay. Inlays and onlays
can be made from porcelain, gold, or
composite or ceramic resin, although
porcelain is now becoming the material
of choice because of its strength and
potential to match the natural colour of
your tooth.
An inlay
is similar to a filling and lies inside
the cusp tips of the tooth. They are
custom-made to fit the prepared cavity
and are then cemented into place. An
onlay is a more extensive reconstruction
that covers one or more cusps of a
tooth. Onlays are indicated in
situations where a substantial
reconstruction is required. However,
more of the tooth structure can be
conserved compared to the placement of a
crown.
Patients should avoid biting hard
objects in order not to fracture the
porcelain. Normal brushing and flossing,
use fluoride mouth rinse and toothpaste
as prescribed by your dentist. Same
dietary restriction for the longest
restorative life. Porcelain inlays/onlays
can successfully achieve both aesthetic
and functional results in restoring
discoloured or metal posterior teeth.
More conservative than full crown.
