Inlays & Onlays
Tulsa, OK
Inlays and onlays are two types of indirect fillings which we at, Smiles of Tulsa in Tulsa, OK can use to restore a patient’s teeth after they’ve sustained damage like tooth decay or fracturing. Indirect fillings are usually recommended in cases where the damage is too severe for a normal filling but doesn’t necessarily warrant fitting the patient for a crown or extracting the natural tooth. With an inlay or onlay, we can treat and repair damage while also preserving your original tooth.
What are Inlays and Onlays Made Of?
Inlays and onlays are usually made from the same material as traditional fillings, but the composition of your restoration will be best determined by Corbyn VanBrunt, DDS during your consultation. Typically, we work with porcelain or a composite resin material to build inlays and onlays. These materials provide the most natural and seamless aesthetics for your restoration. We can also make your inlay or onlay from gold, which is a more durable option.
Gold inlays or onlays are best suited for restorations to back teeth where they will be less noticeable and can absorb the force of biting and chewing, but they are also a more expensive option. Whichever material you choose, an inlay or onlay can last as long as 30 years with proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.
Inlays
Inlays refer to restorations for patients who have sustained damage to their teeth and require a large filling, but that damage hasn’t affected the tips or cusps of their teeth. The filling required is large enough to weaken the remaining tooth, but the damage isn’t so severe that we’d recommend extracting the tooth. An inlay can restore the strength and durability of your tooth without affecting the natural structure and aesthetics. The process for receiving your inlay usually required two office visits.
During the first, you can expect to receive a local anesthetic to numb the afflicted tooth. Corbyn VanBrunt, DDS will then remove any decay or debris, take an impression of your tooth, and send that impression off to a dental lab where your custom restoration will be made. In about a week, we’ll invite you back to the office where you’ll receive your permanent inlay.
Onlays
Onlays are a lot like inlays, with the one big difference being that they can treat and restore teeth that have sustained damage to their tips or cusps. Like an inlay, an onlay is used when a tooth requires a large filling that might otherwise weaken the tooth. Receiving an onlay will also usually take two office visits: one to clean and prepare the tooth and a second to place the permanent onlay which has been prepared in a dental lab. The impression we take of your tooth will result in a custom onlay that lies on top of your tooth to restore the damaged tips and will be made to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Call us at (918) 891-3059 today to schedule your consultation for inlays or onlays today! |
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