Inlays/onlays
An inlay is an indirect restoration that is fabricated outside the mouth to fill in a hole left by a cavity or old filling. Traditionally, inlays were made from metal but increasingly they are made from porcelain to achieve superior aesthetics. Unlike a filling which is created and hardens in the mouth, an inlay is made either in a laboratory or in-surgery using the Cerec system. An inlay is recommended where a substantial amount of a tooth's structure has been lost and a filling is unlikely to be strong enough to withstand the normal forces within the mouth.
An onlay is used to refer to this type of restoration when it covers one or more cusps of a tooth. A major advantage of an inlay/only over a filling is the increased strength and durability. Consequently, inlays/onlays can last for ten years and more.
The procedure for a conventional inlay/onlay involves two visits. In the first visit the tooth is prepared by removing all decay. An impression is taken of the gap in the tooth and sent to a laboratory to make the inlay/onlay. Meanwhile, a temporary filling is placed in the tooth to protect it. The inlay/onlay takes about two weeks to be delivered from the laboratory. At the second visit, the inlay/onlay is checked for shade and fit. If the prosthetic is satisfactory then it is bonded in place using a resin and polished to a smooth finish.
We can offer a single visit inlay/onlay service where the preparation, fabrication and fitting of the inlay/onlay can be done in about an hour and a half.
