An inlay or onlay restoration is a custom filling made of composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain.
It can be utilized to conservatively repair your tooth that has a large defective filling or has been damaged by decay or trauma.
- Inlay
- An inlay is an ideal alternative to a conventional silver or composite filling. Also, it's more conservative than a crown (cap) because less of your tooth structure is removed.
- Onlay
- An onlay is essentially identical to an inlay with the exception that one or more of the chewing cusps have also been affected and need to be included in the restoration. An onlay is sometimes also referred to as a partial crown.
As with most dental restorations, an inlay or onlay is not always permanent and may someday need to be replaced due to normal wear.
It's highly durable and will last many years, giving you a long-lasting, beautiful smile.