Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair rear teeth have a mild to moderate amount of decay. They can also be used to restore teeth that are cracked of fractured if the damage is not severe enough to require a dental crown. Inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain, composite resin, and sometimes even from gold.

Because they can be created from tooth-colored materilas, inlays and onlays are often used to replace metal fillings for patients who desire a more natural looking smile.

Benefits of Dental Inlays and Onlays

In treating dental decay, inlays and onlays help to eliminate tooth sensitivity and eventual tooth loss. Inlays and onlays also offer the following benefits:

Since they can be made from tooth-colored material, including porcelain and composite resin, inlays and onlays are virtually invisible.

Unlike metal fillings, inlays and onlays will not expand or contract in response to temperature changes caused by hot or cold foods. This change in size can cause teeth to weaken or fracture.

The use od inlays and onlays requires less tooth reduction than does the use of metal fillings. This allows dentists to conserve more of a patien's natural tooth structure in the treatment process.

The durable material from which inlays and onlays are made helps them last up to 30 years, much longer than that of conventional fillings.

Inlays and onlays can replace silver fillings to create a healthier, more natural-looking smile.

By saving decayed teeth, inlays and onlays prevent the need form more extensive treatment later on.