Inlays and Onlays

If a tooth has become weakened through damage or decay and a filling is insufficient to repair it, inlays and onlays can help. Composite and porcelain inlays and onlays are also a popular option for replacing large fillings.

Both inlays and onlays restore a decayed or cracked tooth. Whilst inlays sit within the tooth, onlays replace one or more of a tooth’s absent walls. In some cases, an onlay will also cover what’s known as the cusp (the pointed part of a tooth) to fortify it. A conservative treatment, inlays and onlays require minimal removal of tooth tissue to be successful.

Whilst a filling is built up inside the mouth, inlays and onlays are created outside of the mouth, then cemented into place. Following a full assessment, we will start by numbing and preparing the tooth, removing the decayed and weakened matter, then take an impression or a digital scan of the tooth cavity. We will make a note of your tooth shade and send this information to the dental laboratory, where your restoration will be custom made.

Alternatively, your inlay or onlay can be created on-site, using our state-of-the-art CEREC milling machine, and then bonded securely in place on the same day of the preparation.

Inlays and onlays are most commonly made from composite, pressed ceramics or zirconia, all of which are a durable and share aesthetic properties with tooth enamel. We may also recommend gold for your inlay or onlay if we feel your tooth might benefit from a particularly strong material to restore it and if appearance is not a priority – for example if the tooth being restored is at the back of the mouth.

Treatment with an inlay or onlay typically takes two appointments, though we are also able to offer same-day inlays and onlays, thanks to the state-of-the-art CEREC system. With this sophisticated CAD/CAM system on site it allows us to create and fit your inlay or onlay in a day, so the need for a temporary crown is eliminated.