Are Inlays and Onlays in dentistry Good For Teeth Gap Fillings?
When you have damaged teeth, it should be natural to seek solutions for repairing and restoring them. You may think you do not have many options because you are unfamiliar with dental onlays and inlays in dentistry for teeth gap fillings.
What Are Inlays and Onlays?
They are indirect tooth fillings for repairing and restoring teeth, usually made of one solid piece that perfectly fits a tooth. These oral appliances are created outside of the mouth, in a dental laboratory, different from direct installations typical of dental fillings.
Inlays fill the gap of a tooth within the cusps but do not cover the chewing surfaces. Onlays take up more space in your mouth, filling the tooth within the cusps and the chewing surfaces of teeth. Such functions make inlays and onlays suitable for repairing and restoring molars only since they have deep fissures and pits.
The Procedure for Getting Dental Inlays and Onlays
When you visit our dentist in Poway for inlays and onlays, anticipate a treatment plan that takes at least two dental visits to complete. The first visit will involve preparation and the second one installation.
The initial step will be to remove the damaged part of your tooth structure. The dentist will remove as much of your tooth enamel as is damaged. Afterward, (s)he creates an impression of your tooth into a mold that will help create your onlay or inlay. The creation process occurs in a dental laboratory. Meanwhile, your dentist may place a temporary dental crown to protect your tooth as your inlay or onlay is readied.
The next appointment will involve the installation of your indirect filling. The dentist uses dental cement to bond porcelain inlay or onlay to your prepared tooth. After curing the dental cement with UV light, your treatment is complete and ready to go.
Onlays and Inlays for Filling Tooth Gaps
Dental inlays and onlays in Poway have become a reliable in-between alternative for patients who cannot decide the best alternative between dental crowns and dental fillings. At Heavenly Smiles Dentist, onlays and inlays are suitable indirect fillings that do not involve preparing the entire tooth.
Inlays fill the tooth without spilling over to the cusps. Onlays, on the other hand, fill the tooth enough to cover the cusps thereof. As such, they are known as partial crowns. The only difference from dental crowns is that onlays do not encapsulate the entire tooth.
Why Should You Choose Onlays or Inlays?
You can easily get overwhelmed if you choose between dental crowns, dental fillings, or onlays and inlays. While all these dental approaches can fill a tooth gap, they work differently. Consider the following benefits of onlays and inlays:
- Sturdy option – compared to dental fillings, you will appreciate the sturdiness of inlays and onlays.
- Less invasive option – the preparation involved during dental crown installation is more invasive than getting onlays and inlays. The reason is that dental crowns must cover your entire tooth, hence requiring the removal of more tooth enamel than is the case with onlays and inlays.
- Preserving your natural tooth structure – a dentist will only remove the part of your tooth enamel that is diseased or infected and nothing more. After removing the damaged part, (s), he can determine which inlay or onlay would best fill the tooth gap without compromising your tooth structure.
- Cosmetic benefit – dental onlays and inlays typically feature tooth-colored porcelain material that can match the color of your natural teeth.
- Protecting tooth cusps – whether you realize it or not, teeth cusps easily incur damage. Wear and tear is the most common cause. However, your teeth cusps can suffer damage due to teeth clenching and excessive teeth grinding. Onlays are instrumental for repairing, restoring, and protecting the tooth cusps of molars and premolars.
- Improving teeth function – the role of teeth, primarily molars and premolars is to chew and break down food into small particles that are easy to swallow and digest. Onlays and inlays ensure that your teeth do not have any holes, chips, breaks, or cavities that tamper with the ability to function correctly.