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Inlays & Onlays - Crown Point Dental - Columbus Ohio

Inlays and Onlays Dentist in Columbus

What are dental fillings?

Inlays and Onlays, are types of lab-made restorations that are placed on teeth when the cavity or lost tooth structure is too large to be restored by a simple filling. The process of making an inlay is very similar to a crown. After the tooth is prepared, it is cemented or bonded to the tooth.

We'll help you determine when an inlay or onlay is a viable treatment option for you. In general, inlays and onlays can replace most back teeth fillings and are sometimes cosmetically preferred over conventional fillings. A t the same time, they are more conservative than crowns.

As far as cost is concerned, because the process of making an inlay or onlay is similar to a crown, its cost is also comparable. But when considering the longevity of inlays and onlays, they can end up costing less than traditional fillings.
What Are The Types of Dental Fillings?

There are many different types of dental filling. But they all fall into one of two categories: direct or indirect.

Direct Fillings
Common materials for direct fillings are:
  • Amalgam (silver in color; contains mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc and copper).
  • Resin composite (tooth-colored; consists of a resin base with powdered quartz, silica or glass).
  • Glass ionomer (tooth-colored; made of silica glass powder).

Indirect Fillings
Our office is able to create and place your indirect filling in a single appointment.

Inlays and onlays are two common types of indirect fillings which are made of tooth colored porcelain.

Why would we recommend an indirect filling over a direct filling?
  1. The cavity is too big for a composite filling but not big enough for a crown
  2. There is a new cavity around an existing filling
  3. For patients who have parafunctional habits such as clenching & grinding
  4. For patients with behavioral habits such as consuming sweets & carbonated beverages
  5. Patients who lack proper home care (brushing & flossing 2x everyday)
The rate of recurrent cavities around inlays and onlays is significantly less than direct fillings
Crown