Inlays and Onlays
Portland, OR
 A dental filling known as an inlay can be made using resin, gold, or porcelain and treats an existing cavity. The inlay is bigger than regular fillings but smaller than dental crowns. A difference between the two is the cusp size of the tooth.
An inlay placement requires a tooth impression and a piece for restoration. The process is considered a success when all decay is removed and having a dental restoration is not possible. Having the procedure completed by Uptown Family Dental means you will receive the best instructions provided by your dentist.
Types of Inlays and Onlays
An inlay and onlay are available in two types. They can be either direct or indirect. With direct, the inlay or onlay will be fabricated as a patient waits during their appointment. This makes everything easy as only one dental visit is needed.
The indirect method is not completely similar to the direct method, except for when the decay is removed. What differs is that the treated tooth will obtain a filling for the impression to be made. The patient will then have another appointment that will take out the filling and become cemented to your tooth and polished.
Deciding on Which Is Best
By being seen by a professional dentist, you will be educated as to which inlay or onlay is best for you and the amount of tooth that exists. Typically, gold may be used the most due to its ability to last the longest than other fillings. There are many advantages to using gold for an inlay and one of them involves it not being tarnishable and very strong.
The downside to using gold is that a laboratory needs to make the inlay, which is the indirect method. When it is necessary for an inlay to be utilized, it will be done to fill a gap of a tooth or when decay takes most of the tooth. Many other advantages exist when it comes to the inlay and usually involve a high amount of durability.
Also, the inlay is capable of providing a significant amount of tooth strength whereas other filling types provide a significant amount of strength by comparison. Not only that, but having an inlay will help the tooth’s lifespan last for many years. This increase will decrease the amount of treatment that may be required later on.
When an inlay or onlay is used, it is important to understand that oral care needs to continue consistently. Regular checkups will also need to continue. If you are wondering if you need an inlay or onlay, get in touch with Uptown Family Dental by calling (503) 223-5040. We will get your tooth the treatment it deserves. |
