What happens when a patient comes to our office with tooth decay or damage that requires more than just a filling for repair, but is not severe enough to necessitate a dental crown? In this case, Dr. Madhav will likely suggest placing an inlay or an onlay.
Inlays and onlays have their similarities and their differences. They are similar in that both are fabricated in a dental lab and sent back to our office for placement over your damaged tooth. Inlays and onlays are both made of porcelain veneer or composite resin material, and both are designed according to an impression taken with your dentist in Plano, TX, and according to Dr. Madhav’s specifications.
The difference between an inlay and an onlay is actually rooted in the construction of your tooth. More often than not, these tooth restorations are used to restore one of your molars. When you look at one of these back teeth you see cusps, or points. An inlay is place within the confines of these cusps and lies only on top of the tooth’s chewing surface. Conversely, an onlay covers at least one cusp and may even extend over the sides of the tooth. Dr. Madhav will be able to select which is the best option for you based on the extent of decay or damage to your tooth.
Both inlays and onlays in Plano, TX, necessitate two visits with Dr. Madhav at Preston Bend Dental. During the first appointment, Dr. Madhav will anesthetize the tooth and surrounding tissue in order to comfortably remove the decayed portion of tooth or to reshape a damaged tooth. If a new inlay or onlay will be replacing a worn metal filling, then that will be removed so you can have a new restoration that is not only tooth-colored, but also stronger and longer lasting.
Once Dr. Madhav is finished preparing the tooth, we’ll take an impression that is sent to our dental lab. This impression is the form that is used to create a perfectly fitting inlay or onlay. While this happens at the lab, we’ll place a temporary restoration over your newly prepared tooth.
In a couple of weeks, you’ll return to Preston Bend Dental to have the permanent inlay or onlay placed. Dr. Madhav will gently remove the temporary and check to make sure the new restoration fits exactly to the tooth. Once bonded into place, we’ll polish the inlay or onlay so the finish matches the shine of your other teeth.
Onlays and inlays in Plano, TX, help patients restore both the appearance and strength of a tooth. To learn more about these aesthetic restorations, contact Preston Bend Dental.
