Dental Inlays and Onlays in Tarzana

When a tooth needs more support than a filling can provide - but doesn’t require a full crown - inlays and onlays offer a durable, conservative solution.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays have commonly been used in place of fillings to replace a small part of a tooth that has been lost due to tooth decay. As the name suggests, inlays fit inside the tooth. Traditionally, inlays were only made of gold.

In modern dentistry, inlays are still used in the same situations to replace decayed parts, but other materials are also used. Inlays can be made of a tooth-colored material such as porcelain.

Onlays, on the other hand, also fit inside the tooth, but extend onto the chewing surface of a back tooth to replace one or more cusps.

Just like inlays, onlays were also historically only made of gold but patients can now request for ceramic/porcelain tooth-colored onlay.

Candidates for Inlays and Onlays in Tarzana

Candidates for inlays and onlays are patients who have too much damage for a traditional dental filling, but not enough damage to warrant the need for a crown. To be eligible for an inlay or onlay, you must have sufficient remaining tooth structure to support the restoration.

Patients who have had this type of restoration need to practice a healthy oral hygiene routine.

For long-lasting results, it is important to brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, and attend all regular dental visits.

Schedule an Appointment

It may be difficult for a patient to know if an inlay or onlay is the right fit for their needs. That's why at Happy Tooth Dental, we study each case and advise accordingly. Please give us a call at 213-111-1234 to schedule your appointment.