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These are chosen for aesthetic reasons. They are preferred to the traditional amalgam filling and many people choose to replace their fillings with the natural colored inlays and onlays.
If you live in Southern California, feel free to Schedule a New Patient Visit with us in Zak Dental offices.
These inlays and onlays are made from a tough, ceramic material which resembles the natural color of your own teeth and is extremely esthetic.
An inlay or onlay is a type of material which is placed inside or over the surface of a decayed or damaged tooth and are seen as a good alternative to a crown. They are made from a variety of materials such as gold or ceramic and cover the top surface of a tooth.
The main benefit is that they fit in well with the rest of your teeth. The material used is ‘tooth colored’ and has a realistic appearance which is good news from a cosmetic point of view.
Many people choose this type of inlay and/or onlay as a replacement for their amalgam fillings. They find this type of filling ugly looking and unsightly and prefer to have a type of filling which is hard to distinguish from the rest of their teeth.
This sometimes form part of an overall ‘smile makeover’ in which various procedures are performed to improve the look of the teeth and as a confidence boost.
There is no risk of the inlays and onlays becoming discolored over time. They are easy to clean as part of a daily dental routine and provide extra support for a tooth.
Ceramic is strong and durable but because it is a rigid material it is also at risk of a fracture. If too much pressure is put on the inlay/onlay, for example, biting on an item of hard food then it is liable to break.
This procedure is the same for all types of inlays and onlays. It involves two visits to the dentist as opposed to the single visit undertaken for a standard filling.
The dentist will examine the affected tooth before taking an impression of this using a putty filled mould. This requires you to bite into the dental putty which leaves an imprint of the tooth which will be used to create the inlay or onlay.
The inlay or onlay is fabricated at a dental laboratory.
Your affected tooth will be covered with a temporary inlay or onlay (known as a ‘temp’) during this time.
On your second visit the temp is removed and replaced with your new inlay or onlay. This is secured in place with dental cement before being given a final polish.