Inlays & Onlays Thousand Oaks
Inlays & Onlays are used to repair teeth when normal fillings are not enough and crowns are too much. The difference between an inlay vs an onlay is how wide the damaged area of the tooth is and if the damage includes a cusp of a tooth.
If the damage includes the cusp of a tooth (found on molars and premolars), more extensive work is required to repair the tooth which would require an Onlay. Inlays and Onlays are usually made of porcelain, resin, or gold. These pieces are generally created outside of the practice in a lab and then bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. Porcelain has become the popular choice in material due to its strength and white color.
What is the procedure like?
Inlays and Onlays require two appointments to complete the process. During the first visit, our doctors will prepare the tooth for the inlay/onlay. They will remove the damaged or decaying area of the tooth and apply a temporary sealant. An impression will be taken of the damaged tooth and sent to a lab, where they will create the inlay/onlay with careful consideration for proper fit and bite. During the second appointment, Dr. Saremi and Dr. Johnstone will remove the temporary sealant and verify that the inlay/onlay fits the damaged tooth properly. If the lab-produced inlay/onlay is satisfactory, it will be bonded to the tooth with a strong resin and polished to ensure your smile looks perfect.
Considerations for Inlays and Onlays
In comparison to Dental Fillings, which can reduce the strength of a tooth, Inlays/Onlays can actually increase the strength of a natural tooth by up to 75%. As a result, Inlays and Onlays have a much longer lifespan ranging from 10-30 years making them a very powerful dental asset.
