Inlays and Onlays are an excellent way to restore teeth with small to moderate decay. They are perfect for teeth with too much damage to be restored with a filling, yet are more conservative than a crown. Advantages: Inlays and Onlays are incredibly strong due to the fact that they are created in a laboratory. This protects the tooth from fracturing and actually strengthens the tooth. In addition, Inlays and Onlays fit almost perfectly into the prepared surface of the tooth, reducing the size of the seam between the restoration and the tooth. This helps keep decay from returning under the restoration. Disadvantages: Due to the fact that they are crafted in a laboratory, they require a greater initial investment than a regular filling, as well as 2 trips to the dentist. However, in the long run, inlays and onlays are a better investment than fillings due to their longer life and highly accurate fit. In the procedure the decay and old restoration are removed and cleaned from the tooth and an accurate impression or mold is made of the prepared surface. This mold is used to create a model of the tooth which is used to create a porcelain (tooth colored) restoration called an inlay or an onlay. The inlay or onlay is then bonded into the prepared surface of the tooth. An inlay covers only 2 or 3 surfaces of the tooth and is used to restore a small amount of decay. An onlay actually covers one or more cusps (the chewing surfaces of the tooth.) Crowns are the only alternatives to onlays in cases of extensive decay.
