Inlays + Onlays

At this point, pretty much everyone is aware of the benefits of brushing and flossing your teeth. It is a fact that brushing and flossing is a good thing, and failing to do so can only result in bad things happening. Even with this knowledge, some people do not give their teeth the care that is needed to ensure good oral health. Others just have teeth that are naturally susceptible to decay. Regardless of the reason why your teeth are damaged, inlays and onlays offer relief to patients, repairing any teeth that are in need of help.

BioDental Care in Tijuana offers affordable and high-quality inlays and onlays to patients in both San Diego and Mexico. If you are interested in learning more about inlays or onlays, or would like to schedule a dentist appointment, contact us today by calling (619) 754-8508.

What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are similar to the cavities used for dental fillings in that they work to repair damage caused by tooth decay or general wear and tear. However, dental inlays and onlays actually remove the damaged portion of your teeth. Then, a small replacement is crafted in a lab to replace the removed portion. Once the replacement piece is complete, it is attached to your tooth. 

The primary difference between a dental inlay and an onlay is the scope and location of the tooth damage in need of repair. Dental inlays treat any damage that exists solely in the center surface of a tooth, while an onlay can treat damage that exists closer to the tip of the tooth

Advantages of Having Inlays and Onlays Installed

There are many advantages to having inlays and onlays installed.

• This method of treating tooth decay preserves more of your natural tooth, helping to keep your mouth natural and healthy. Keeping more of your natural tooth helps to strengthen the existing tooth, providing more stability to the rest of your mouth.
• Inlays and onlays also feature a customized replacement tooth piece that was designed in a lab to perfectly fit your tooth and mouth. This cutting-edge replacement tooth offers more resistance to staining and protects the tooth from additional decay.
• Dental inlays and onlays can be used to restore a failed dental filling

How are Inlays and Onlays Applied?

Inlays and onlays will typically require two separate dentist appointments. During the first appointment, the damaged section of the tooth will be removed, preparing the tooth for the inlay or onlay to be placed. Then, an impression of the tooth is made and sent to the lab in order for the replacement piece to be custom-designed to perfectly fit your mouth. A temporary sealant will be placed on the tooth until the replacement is complete. Once the lab creates the replacement tooth piece, it will be bonded to the tooth and polished until it is smooth.

Dental Onlay vs. crown

It may be helpful to think of dental onlay as a method of tooth repair  and a dental crown as method of tooth replacement.  (This is true only of the crown of the tooth, not the root. Both tooth restoration options preserve the tooth root.) A dental onlay is used when a filling is not quite enough to seal the cavity while still preserving the tooth structure, but when a crown is not yet required. The process of the dental onlay involves removing the decay from the crown of the tooth and then replacing it with a custom-designed piece that strengthens the tooth while preserving as much of its natural crown as possible.

A dental crown, on the other hand, is a replacement for the tooth’s natural crown. A crown is called for when the tooth is either cracked or broken, or when several cavities have damaged more of the crown than can be repaired with a filling, inlay, or onlay.  The process for installing a dental crown involves first filing the tooth surface and sides down to make room for the prosthetic crown. An impression is then taken so that the lab can custom create your permanent crown, which will be placed during a second visit. 

With proper dental care, both dental crowns can last up to 15 years, depending on the materials used. 

When it comes to onlay vs crown, your dentist will opt for the one that preserves as much of your tooth as possible without threatening its structure. 

Dental Onlay vs filling

Dental fillings and dental onlays are both used to restore health and function to a decayed tooth, but they are different in two important ways. First, they’re different in size.  A dental filling requires just a small amount of filling substance to seal off the space left behind with the removal of decay.  Dental inlays and onlays are used when the cavity is larger than a standard filling can handle while still preserving the tooth structure. Onlays in particular are used when the tooth requires repair on the cusp (the raised point on the crown of the tooth) as well as the top of the crown. Second, onlays and fillings differ in the way they fill the space.  Fillings are done in a single visit, with the use of amalgam, gold, composite, or ceramic.  Onlays requires more time because the solid, customized replacement piece is made in a lab and then later bonded to the tooth during the second visit. 

With proper dental care, fillings can last up to 10 years, and onlays and inlays can last 10 to 15. 

When it comes to dental onlay vs filling, your dentist will opt for the one that best fills your cavity while also preserving your tooth structure.

Schedule an Inlay and Onlay Consultation at BioDental in Tijuana

If you have a tooth or several teeth that are suffering from damage or decay, BioDental Care can help. We specialize in inlays and onlays at our Tijuana location, serving patients in both Mexico and San Diego.  If you are interested in learning more about inlays and onlays or would like to schedule a consultation, contact us today by calling (619) 754-8508.