Dental Inlays and Onlays in Chattanooga, TN

SUFFERING FROM TOOTH DAMAGE? INLAYS OR ONLAYS COULD BE THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO REPAIR YOUR TOOTH DAMAGE

What Are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Dental inlays and Onlays are restorations used to repair rear teeth with mild to moderate decay or cracked and fractured teeth that are not sufficiently damaged to need a crown. This allows us to preserve more of the patient’s original tooth structure.

Inlays and Onlays can be porcelain, gold, or composite resin and are bonded to the damaged area of a tooth. An inlay is similar to a filling and lies inside the tooth; an Onlay is larger and sits on top of parts of a tooth.

When Are They Used?

Ideal patients for inlay or Onlay work typically have too much damage or decay in the tooth structure to be successfully treated using a filling, but have adequate healthy tooth remaining to avoid the need for a crown.

Did You Know?

Inlays and Onlays are bonded directly into the tooth with special resins and can actually increase the strength of the tooth by up to 75% and can last from 10 to 30 years.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are more durable and last longer than composite fillings, with a life expectancy of nearly 20 years. While they are more expensive than a filling, they are less expensive than a crown, and the better your oral hygiene routine is, the longer they will last.

When Do We Recommend an Inlay or Onlay?

Dr. McOmie will recommend an Inlay or an Onlay depending on your needs, but some situations where we suggest them are when you have decayed teeth, worn teeth, need to improve your bite, repair old or worn restorations.