Inlay and onlay
Lab-made pieces bonded into a tooth when a cavity is too large for a filling.
What they are
Inlays and onlays are pieces of ceramic or composite made in the lab from a scan of the tooth and bonded into the cavity left by large decay or an old filling. An inlay sits inside the tooth; an onlay also covers one or more cusps.
When they suit
When the cavity is too big for a composite filling but the tooth still has enough healthy tissue not to need a crown. They keep more of the tooth than a crown does.
How they work here
In two visits: at the first we prepare and scan the tooth, and you wear a temporary filling until the piece is ready; at the second we try it in, check the bite and bond it.
Reviewed by Dr. Voinea ·
CMDR Romania · Galați University of Medicine and Pharmacy · General Dentistry