|
|
 
Inlays and Onlays
In modern cosmetic dentistry, fillings and crowns that are large in size are being replaced with inlays and onlays. Teeth that have decayed excessively in the middle can have the decay drilled out, but the remaining tooth wall would be too thin to support a filling. In cases like this, where the remaining tooth enamel is in good condition but the structure of the tooth is gone, dentists now use inlays and onlays to restore the tooth's strength instead of having to pull it or grind it down for a crown. Both inlays and onlays are fabricated of porcelain, which allows the tooth to look natural even after restoration, and it feels real to the patient.
An inlay is placed in the center of a tooth to re-establish the strength a tooth needs when biting, and an onlay is a veneer placed on the outside of the tooth. Just like their names sound, inlays replace the center of a damaged tooth, and onlays placed over top of the existing tooth surface to give it back its shape and wall strength.
If a damaged tooth has a pre-existing filling that is also damaged, onlays are preferable to crowns for restoration. In order to set a crown, most of the tooth surface must be ground off to make room for the metal and porcelain cap. Because gum lines recede over time, eventually the metal inner layer of the crown starts to show through as a metal ring around the bottom of the tooth. This makes the tooth look ugly. Onlays are made of porcelain only, and match existing tooth color well, so even if the gum line does recede, only natural-looking tooth enamel can be seen.
When choosing between a composite filling and an inlay to fill a hole in the tooth, inlays are also better options. Composite fillings will slowly shrink, allow new areas of the old tooth to become exposed to decay and new cavities, whereas inlays do not shrink. Also, porcelain inlays and onlays to not react to temperature changes like composite fillings do, which means your teeth will not be as sensitive to hot and cold. For a large cavity inside the tooth, inlays are a better choice because they do not shrink, and add strength to the thin walls of the remaining tooth.
Composite fillings are installed in the drilled and prepared tooth in one visit to the dentist. Inlays and onlays, however, are custom made to fit exactly in place, so the dentist will take a mold of your mouth during your first visit, and then install a temporary patch over the damaged area so you can eat. In about two weeks, when the fabricated portion of the tooth arrives, Dr. Kederian will cement the perfectly shaped porcelain is cemented in place with resin bonding agents. The result is a tooth that looks natural and has been saved from destruction, and allows you to get back to normal life.
|
|
|
|
|
