What Are Fillings, Inlays & Onlays?
Fillings, inlays, and onlays are tooth restorations applied by our dentists to help treat varying levels of decay and damage in our patients' teeth, generally in the form of cavities.
Generally speaking, the decay from a cavity will be removed from the tooth with a dental drill before whichever kind of restoration is appropriate is applied to the affected area.
Inlays and onlays are often used when there is too much damage for a regular filling, or to create a more natural-looking appearance.
Fillings, inlays, and onlays can all prevent further decay and damage to your smile as well as reinforce the structure of the affected tooth.
Composite Fillings
Composite resin fillings can be used to repair a cavity or other tooth damage. Composite fillings are tooth-coloured to create a natural-looking appearance.
Composite fillings can withstand moderate pressure; inlays and onlays are typically more durable.
Inlays
Inlays are larger than a regular filling and are placed in order to fill the space between the cusps at the centre of your tooth's surface.
Inlays are made in a dental lab based on an impression of the space needing to be filled.
Onlays
Onlays, in contrast to inlays, cover the damaged or decayed cusps of a tooth rather than filling the space between them. Onlays are also lab fabricated.
Onlays are commonly used in cases where a dental crown might be considered an excessive treatment option.