Inlays and Onlays

Where a cavity is too large for a filling to hold reliably but the tooth does not need full coverage, an inlay or onlay is made in the lab and bonded in. An inlay sits within the cusps; an onlay covers one or more of them. Both preserve more tooth than a crown does.

How it's done

1. 01

   Preparation

   The cavity is shaped to a form the restoration can seat into cleanly.

2. 02

   Scan

   The preparation is scanned and the restoration designed digitally.

3. 03

   Fabrication

   Milled from ceramic or pressed, then characterised.

4. 04

   Bonding

   Bonded under isolation, then contacts and bite adjusted.

Who it suits

Large old fillings that are failing, and cracked cusps where the rest of the tooth is healthy.

Where it falls short

More expensive than a filling and needs two visits. If a crack extends below the gum, a crown is the safer option.

Recovery

Short-lived sensitivity.