Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair teeth that are decayed or otherwise damaged. Our dentist may recommend an inlay or onlay if the tooth is too badly decayed to be repaired with a white dental filling yet the damage is not extensive enough to require a dental crown. Sometimes called partial crowns, dental inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations that fit your tooth to repair the damage. After removing the decayed portion of the tooth, our dentist takes impressions of the tooth that are then used to create your custom inlay or onlay. In the meantime, we will provide you with a temporary restoration. Once it is ready, the permanent restoration is then cemented in place to restore the health and structure of the tooth. Inlays and onlays can be created from a number of materials, including gold and porcelain; many patients choose porcelain restorations for their natural-looking aesthetic.
While both inlays and onlays can be used to repair a damaged tooth, they are slightly different. A dental inlay is used when the damage is contained on the chewing surface of the tooth and does not extend to the cusps (the raised points on the tooth). If one or more of the tooth cusps are also damaged, an onlay is used. We welcome you to contact 201 Dental Care today to learn more about dental onlays and inlays in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and to set up your next appointment with Dr. Jessica Gorelik by calling 201-944-1969.