When your tooth has enough solid structure remaining to hold a restoration, a porcelain inlay or onlay is a good treatment alternative. An inlay is a restoration that fits within the tooth, and an onlay sit inside on top of the tooth. Many recent advances in dental materials now allow us to restore your tooth with esthetically beautiful and functionally strong restorations without removing the amount of tooth structure often required to make a crown.

 A porcelain inlay can actually strengthen your tooth because the inlay will bond the opposites of remaining tooth structure together, forming a solid, strong new tooth. The porcelain inlays we use are actually hybrid materials make of high density acrylics and porcelain particles. This combination allows the inlay to adapt tightly to the tooth and yet be flexible enough not to fracture. These restorations look beautiful, blending in with the adjacent tooth structure.

Cosmetic porcelain or resin inlays and onlays are custom crafted in a dental laboratory to precisely fit your tooth.

First, the decayed portions of the tooth are removed.

Impressions are made to re-create your natural tooth.

A temporary inlay or onlay is worn until the second appointment where your new inlay or onlay is bonded to your tooth. This tooth colored inlay looks great, it’s strong, durable and virtually undetectable.