Inlays & Onlays A dental filling is used to restore your tooth's structure after your cavity has been removed. Like fillings and crowns, inlays and onlays are used to repair your tooth's structure if it has suffered from decay. If a filling would offer too little protection and a crown would offer too much protection, inlays and onlays offer the best alternative solution for restoring your tooth and saving its natural structure. If you have previously received a filling it may have been used to fill in a small cavity. Getting a dental crown means your tooth had a larger cavity, and the crown may have been used to cover a large amount of decay. A recommendation for an inlay instead of a filling means that you need a more unique shape than a filling can provide to fit the area of decay. If our dentist recommends an onlay instead of an inlay then your area of decay extends onto the chewing surface and an onlay can be used to rebuild this structure. Do you have a cavity and want to preserve your smile? Allow our experienced dental professionals at Simonsen Dental to consider inlays and onlays as a possible treatment plan for your cavity. Inlay ProcedureWhen getting an inlay, you will need two appointments with our dentist. Our dentist will first take an x-ray of the tooth, the roots, and the surrounding bone in order to determine the full extent of the decay in your teeth. Then the dentist will use a needle to inject local anesthetic to ensure that your procedure goes without unwanted discomfort while we remove decay with a drill, laser, or air abrasion instrument. We may also use caries detector dye which is a dye that can leave a stain on less obvious areas of decay. This will help us eliminate all decay within your smile without causing excessive damage to the structure of your irreplaceable enamel. If you are considering inlays, you should know that this kind of treatment is so important because it can provide your teeth another option besides crowns, which will require virtually the entire tooth to be shaved down, a procedure which cannot be reversed. Once your tooth has been prepared, then we will make a mold of the area and send this imprint to a dental lab where it will be manufactured to perfectly fit the hollow of your tooth. If you are receiving an inlay the materials used traditionally include porcelain or composite resin materials. Once your custom inlay returns a few weeks later, our dentist will be able to bond the inlay to the tooth. Another reason why inlays are so important is that they can be used to cover old fillings with tooth-colored resin and restore their appearance. Onlay ProcedureIf you require an onlay, your procedure will be very similar to an inlay procedure. When receiving an onlay, the key difference is that it will extend onto the chewing surface of your tooth. Cusps are the elevated mounds on canines and your back teeth, your onlay will replace this structure partially or fully. Onlays are used when fillings or inlays are not enough to restore your tooth's appearance and strength. Our dentist will first take an x-ray to examine the tooth, its roots, and the bones that surround it. Shown precisely through the x-rays, the area of decay will be removed from your tooth after the local anesthetic is injected. Now we can make an impression of the cavity and send it to a dental laboratory to be manufactured, and we will use a temporary onlay until your permanent one arrives a few weeks later. Our dentist will apply a local anesthetic and permanently cement your onlay into place. If you are receiving an onlay, it may be made of porcelain or composite resin just like inlays. Taking Care of Your Inlays and OnlaysTo ensure the longevity of your inlay or onlay, the aftercare is very simple, just follow normal healthy oral hygiene practices. This means that you must brush and floss after meals, use fluoride mouthwash, and visit our office every six months for a checkup and cleaning. To consult with a dental professional at Simonsen Dental call (503) 213-7004 today. |
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