Dentistry is no longer just a case of filling and extracting teeth. Nowadays, many people turn to dentistry as a way of improving their appearance, much as they would use cosmetic surgery or even a new hairstyle.

Cosmetic treatments include tooth coloured fillings, veneers, inlays, crowns and tooth whitening.

Inlays / Onlays

When over 1/2 of the tooth’s biting surface is damaged a dentist will often use an inlay or onlay.

What are inlays and onlays?

Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. These pieces are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth; an onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.

Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. In recent years, however, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and colour, which can potentially match the natural colour of your teeth.

Our clinic uses the very latest in modern technology to offer the provision of inlays and onlays in a single visit. CEREC 3D uses CAD / CAM (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument. The dentist uses a special camera to take an accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is transferred and displayed on a colour computer screen, where the dentist uses CAD technology to design the restoration. Then CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration from high quality, tooth coloured porcelain, normally while the patient waits. Finally, the dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth, re-establishing strength and integrity.

Considerations

Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50%. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, being bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75%. As a result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.

An old amalgam gilling	Cavity prepared	Inlay fitted