Questions
Porcelain Inlays/Onlays
In Chicago and surrounding areas
At our cosmetic dental office, you have very natural-looking options when you need to repair or restore a damaged tooth.
Onlays and Inlays can be thought of as the next step up from regular porcelain fillings, but a step down from porcelain crowns. They are used in cosmetic dentistry to repair the biting surfaces of teeth. Onlays and inlays are commonly used when:
- deep cavities have affected a deeper level of enamel
- injury to a tooth has compromised the biting surface
- an old dental restoration has weakened a tooth
Onlays and inlays offer a higher level of enamel protection that fillings, and will involve more tooth reduction as well. At our Chicago office, we use porcelain to create natural-looking inlays and onlays that are also durable and long-lasting.
An inlay is placed just inside the cusp of the tooth. The inlay restoration is created in our lab and then cemented for a permanent fit.
An onlay works the same way, only it covers a greater tooth area. Onlays are used when areas of decay or damage are more extensive.
Both onlays and inlays require less tooth reduction than a crown. The preparation and placement happens in just two visits. After an impression is taken of the tooth, the impression is used to create your restoration. When you come back, the restoration is permanently affixed and you are able to use your restored tooth like normal!
To learn more about what inlays and onlays can do for you, call or email our Chicago cosmetic dentistry office today to schedule your personal consultation.
