An inlay or onlay is a restoration which replaces a portion of missing tooth structure due to tooth decay or trauma to the tooth. Typically inlays or onlays are used if more tooth structure is missing than a filling can bear but a crown is not necessary.
The example below was caused by a fracture of an old filling.
Actual patient of Dr. Sellinger
Difference between an inlay and an onlay:
The restorations are similar in that they both restore missing tooth structure due to tooth decay or trauma. An onlay is required when an entire cusp of the tooth is needed to be replaced.
To see other examples of Inlay/Onlays click here.
Treatment for an inlay or onlay
Traditional inlays and onlays require two visits each lasting about 45 minutes.
CEREC inlays and onlays are completed in one visit thus these restoration do not require a temporary.
First Visit:
At the first visit the doctor will anesthetize the tooth to ensure that the procedure is painless. The tooth is prepared to receive the restoration and an impression is made of the prepared tooth. Next a temporary restoration is made. This temporary seals the tooth until the final inlay can be cemented. The temporary can be used to eat, but it is recommended that sticky foods be avoided on the side that the temporary is on to prevent the temporary from dislodging.
Second visit:
At the second visit the temporary is removed. And the inlay is tried in and the bite is adjusted. After the inlay is fit to the mouth it is cemented into the tooth.
Immediately after the inlay is cemented and after the numbness wears off, normal eating can resume.
