All About Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays in NE Calgary are dental restorations to fix teeth that are too damaged for fillings but not so badly damaged that they need a crown. They’re also referred to sometimes as indirect filling or partial crown as befits their between-a-filling-and-a-crown niche in the world of restorative dentistry. 

Inlays and onlays made from porcelain, composite materials, or even gold will preserve the healthy components of your damaged tooth while also adding the strength and stability required to ensure normal dental function. Onlays and inlays in NE Calgary are less expensive than crowns and a more conservative treatment option than either a crown or a filling (which often actually require the removal of tooth material before they’re placed). 

Inlays vs. onlays: What’s the difference?

The difference boils down to where the inlay or onlay is placed on your tooth. If the restoration is put in the centre of a damaged tooth, it’s an inlay. On the other hand, if the restoration is placed on or over the edge of a damaged tooth, it’s an onlay. Location-aside, inlays and onlays near you operate very similarly.   

Both options are available in three different materials: resin composites, metal, and porcelain. Onlays and inlays near you made from composite resin made out of glass-like and acrylic substances can be coloured to match your tooth exactly. Onlays and inlays are also made from metal, including gold. Because of their strength, but also because they’re hardly subtle, metal onlays are usually used on molars in the rear of your mouth. Porcelain onlays and inlays are very common because porcelain is so well matched to the colour, texture, sheen and luminosity of healthy teeth.  

When are inlays and onlays used?

There are two especially common situations in which family dentists and kids’ dentists use dental inlays and onlays in NE Calgary.

Some cracks and chips in your teeth are too large to be repaired with a filling, but are not serious enough to warrant investing in an expensive and more complex restoration like a dental crown.

Minor cavities caused by bacteria and tooth decay can, when minor, be filled with metal (“silver”) or composite fillings. Having said that, more extensive cavities that don’t undermine integrity of the tooth such that a crown is necessary may require an inlay or onlay rather than just a filling. 

What is the process?

The staff at your dental clinic in NE Calgary will administer a local anesthetic to the gums near the tooth being treated. That way, you’ll feel no pain, though you will still sense pressure and movement while hearing the dentist and their staff at work.

Your dentist in NE Calgary will remove the damaged portions of your tooth using a dental drill before roughening up your remaining healthy tooth to ensure that the inlay or onlay will grip and adhere securely to the tooth. 

Your dentist will then take impressions of your tooth to create a custom inlay or onlay that will fit precisely into the prepared location. The only or inlay may be prepared in your dentist’s office or at an external dental laboratory based on the impressions your dentist took of your tooth. While awaiting your permanent inlay or onlay from an external laboratory, your dentist may provide you with a temporary restoration to protect your tooth in the meantime. 

Your dentist will cement your inlay or onlay onto your tooth permanently using special dental cement before smoothening and polishing all surfaces to ensure there are no perceptible edges or gaps. A well-positioned, well-prepared and properly maintained inlay or onlay will protect your tooth while remaining almost completely imperceptible. 

Do you have a damaged tooth and aren’t sure how to have it repaired? Contact a dental clinic near you and ask if inlays or onlays may be appropriate for you.