Porcelain Onlays - Dental Information at My Dentist USA

More conservative than a crown, inlays and onlays are two methods of restoring normal tooth structure after decay or other damage. Inlays and onlays are known as indirect fillings because unlike a standard filling that is done in a dentist's office, both are made in a laboratory and cemented or bonded to the surface of the tooth during a second visit to the dentist. And unlike standard fillings, inlays and onlays do not weaken the tooth structure, but actually strengthens it. After the procedure, the tooth can bare up to 50 to 75 percent more chewing force.

Made of a strong, natural-looking material, such as porcelain, onlays are larger restorations, extending over one or more sides of your tooth, and can be used similar to a crown or cap. A conservative tooth restoration that requires far less tooth removal than its metal counterpart, an onlay increases tooth strength and provides enduring protection for the tooth. Unlike metal fillings, an onlay can often be used to repair only the damaged portion of the tooth, leaving much more of the original tooth structure intact.

Reasons for onlay restorations:

Fractured Fillings
Cosmetic Enhancement
Broken or Fractured Teeth
Decayed Teeth
Large Fillings

What Is Getting an Onlay Involve?
If a cavity is detected in a dental exam, or if you have a failing metal filling or crown, and the decay extends beyond the cusp of the tooth, an onlay will be used to restore the tooth to health. The dentist will first take an impression of the tooth then send the impression to an outside lab. The lab will then custom-build the onlay to fit the patient's tooth exactly. The patient will be fitted with a temporary inlay in the interim. When the lab returns the onlay to the dentist, he/she will remove the temporary restoration and bond the permanent onlay to the tooth.

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