Inlays & Onlays in Glendale, AZ

When you have sustained damage to a tooth, it may be a worrying issue. The good news is that there are several treatments available at Dobra Dental to help restore the tooth to health. Minor decay or damage can be addressed with a dental filling. Dental crowns are used for a variety of reasons, including to fix a severely damaged tooth. A treatment that lies somewhat in between these two options is inlays and onlays. Similar to dental crowns, inlays and onlays in Glendale, AZ are used to restore the health and function to a damaged tooth.

What are Inlays and Onlays?

Like dental crowns, inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations that are fit onto the tooth. They are also referred to as “indirect fillings” because they are used in a similar way to fillings, but are not applied directly to the tooth. Instead, they must be created in a dental laboratory, then later bonded to the tooth.

Why are Inlays and Onlays Used?

Your dentist at Dobra Dental may recommend the use of an inlay or onlay over a dental crown because they allow you to retain more of the natural tooth structure. Dental crowns require a certain amount of the tooth to be removed to create sufficient room for the prosthetic. Because inlays and onlays are smaller, they require less of the tooth to be taken away. Retaining more of the natural tooth helps to strengthen the restoration.

How are Inlays and Onlays Placed?

The procedure for creating and placing inlays or onlays is essentially the same as one for placing a dental crown. It will take two separate appointments to Dobra Dental in Glendale, AZ. The tooth will first be prepared by having the decay or damage removed from the tooth. An impression will then be taken of the tooth to have the inlay or onlay created (by a dental laboratory). Inlays are used when the damage occurs in the center of the tooth, and onlays are used when the edge (cusps) of one or more teeth has been affected. Once the inlay or onlay has been completed, it will be attached to the prepared tooth using a resin or cement.