Quick, Easy and Beautiful Porcelain Inlays and Onlays all done in one appointment.
When is it Necessary to Have a Porcelain Inlay or Onlay?
Tooth coloured fillings are ideal for small to medium-sized cavities in back teeth but they aren’t so great for larger areas of decay. In this case using tooth coloured composite resin to repair a large cavity could result in the tooth fracturing at some point in the future. Even though composite resin is very strong, the forces created during chewing are substantial which is why it’s necessary to use a harder material.
In the past this would have meant a return trip to the dentist as these types of restorations are sometimes called indirect fillings because they have to be made in a dental laboratory. But nowadays you’ll find your dentist can often supply beautiful fillings that are made from hard-wearing porcelain in just one visit. These fillings are called inlays or onlays and although they may cost a little more than tooth coloured composite resin, they should last for many years and are virtually invisible once they are firmly cemented in place.
What Are Porcelain Inlays and Onlays?
Porcelain inlays and onlays are perfect for repairing larger areas of decay in the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. These areas are particularly susceptible towards becoming decayed due to the intricate grooves and fissures on the tooth surfaces that are used to help grind up food. As a result, food can often become trapped in these fissures resulting in decay. Porcelain inlays can repair the very central part of a chewing surface while an onlay will also repair one or more tooth cusp. These are the raised points on a back tooth so an onlay is slightly larger than an inlay.
Made While You Wait
With a conventional inlay or onlay your dentist would need to take a detailed impression which would then be sent to a dental laboratory so the restoration could be fabricated. In the meantime you would need to have a temporary filling for at least a couple of weeks. It’s not an ideal solution as temporary fillings can easily fall out. Nowadays, CEREC restorations that include porcelain inlays and onlays can be made in your dental practice while you wait. Instead of an impression, your dentist will scan the tooth and the information is sent to a computer so they can custom-design your inlay or onlay. This design is then sent to the on-site milling machine where your inlay or onlay will be milled from a single block of pure porcelain in a shade that closely matches your natural teeth. Once the restoration has been milled it needs to be finished by hand and either glazed or polished.
Your appointment will probably take around an hour and you will be able to leave your dental practice with your new porcelain inlay or onlay bonded in place. There will be no need to worry about having a temporary filling and no need to spend additional time making a return visit to your dentist. It’s a great solution that doesn’t compromise on quality. CEREC restorations use the very latest CADCAM technology so you will receive a long-lasting, beautiful new inlay or onlay that should fit perfectly, sealing out bacteria from your newly repaired tooth.
Yours in oral health,
Dr Violeta Claus