Every time you bite down, a sharp pain shoots through your tooth, serving as a constant reminder of damage that needs more than a simple filling. You’re caught in a frustrating middle ground, wondering what options might restore both function and comfort to your smile. At Beechnut Dental Care, we understand this dental dilemma and offer specialized solutions like inlays and onlays that precisely address these intermediate restoration needs.
Our team of dental professionals is dedicated to providing you with the most appropriate treatment for your specific situation. We take pride in offering these custom-crafted restorations that preserve more of your natural tooth structure while delivering exceptional durability and aesthetic results. With flexible financing plan options available, we work with you to find a payment method that fits your budget, ensuring you can receive the dental care you need without financial strain.
Every time you bite down, a sharp pain shoots through your tooth, serving as a constant reminder of damage that needs more than a simple filling. You’re caught in a frustrating middle ground, wondering what options might restore both function and comfort to your smile. At Beechnut Dental Care, we understand this dental dilemma and offer specialized solutions like inlays and onlays that precisely address these intermediate restoration needs.
Our team of dental professionals is dedicated to providing you with the most appropriate treatment for your specific situation. We take pride in offering these custom-crafted restorations that preserve more of your natural tooth structure while delivering exceptional durability and aesthetic results. With flexible financing plan options available, we work with you to find a payment method that fits your budget, ensuring you can receive the dental care you need without financial strain.
Inlays and onlays are dental restorations, just like fillings and crowns. But these are a step in between fillings and crowns, working on a specific part of the tooth. Use your tongue to feel around inside some of your teeth. Some of those teeth have a little bowl-like section on the top, surrounded by four small points. This area is called the cusp; inlays and onlays specifically work in the cusp area.
Inlays are like fillings placed specifically between the four small points around the cusp. They make a small “X” shape, acting like a filling to patch up holes from decay or damage in the area. This patch helps block out harmful bacteria, which could ultimately lead to the need for a root canal or treatment for an infection spreading to the body.
Onlays are a little bigger and often require us to remove the bowl-like cusp, including some of those four points. If crowns replace your whole tooth from the top to the gumline, onlays are like short crowns. They don’t replace the entire tooth, just the uppermost part of it. Onlays also act like a patch for damage and decay.
Inlays and onlays are typically made of porcelain, gold, composite resin, or metal. However, the material used will depend on what your dentist offers, your specific preferences, and where the tooth is located in your mouth.
Inlays and onlays are excellent for patients with larger cavities or moderate damage. According to The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, approximately 92% of adults have had a cavity, and approximately 21-29% of adults currently have untreated cavities.
For large cavities that need more support than a traditional filling, inlays and onlays tend to be more durable and aesthetically pleasing. Fillings also don’t last as long as inlays and onlays, so they may be less expensive in the long run. Inlays and onlays may also be preferable to crowns when there’s moderate damage, but not enough to warrant replacing the entire tooth. Less of your tooth is removed in this process, meaning you get to hold onto more of your natural smile and structure.
The process of getting your inlays or onlays is relatively straightforward, though it will generally require you to come into the office for a couple of appointments. The following is a brief breakdown of the inlay and onlay procedure:
Before giving you inlays or onlays, we’ll want an in-person exam of your teeth and the damage or decay you want addressed. This will allow us to better personalize the treatment to your specific teeth and needs, treat issues that need to be addressed before the procedure and tend to any other outlying needs.
Your dentist will numb any areas affected by the procedure with a local anesthetic, though patients with anxiety may have a few options for sedation if they want to be less aware during the procedure. Numbing will help ensure you feel comfortable during the procedure.
We’ll remove any decayed or damaged teeth structures that need repair, working carefully to reshape the cavity so any inlays and onlays fit properly.
After removing any damaged structures, we’ll create a mold of your tooth. This will help us ensure your permanent and onlays are a perfect fit.
We’ll also make sure the area is thoroughly cleaned so there are no complications after the procedure.
Your permanent inlays and onlays will not typically be ready before you leave your first appointment, so we’ll give you temporary restorations until your next visit. These will help make eating, speaking, and other oral care easier while you wait.
At your next appointment, we’ll remove the temporary fillings, reclean your tooth, and carefully place the permanent inlays and onlays. During this time, we’ll make adjustments so your bite lines up correctly and your smile feels comfortable. Then, we can finally cement your inlays and onlays with a dental adhesive. We’ll also polish these restorations so they feel smooth and natural, along with the rest of your smile.
If you have any questions about the inlay and onlay process, we encourage you to contact our dedicated team at Beechnut Dental Care. Our providers are compassionate and committed to giving every patient excellent care, so you can rest assured your needs are heard.
At Beechnut Dental Care, we create custom inlays and onlays that provide the ideal middle-ground solution for teeth needing more than a filling but less than a crown. Our experienced team takes pride in preserving your natural tooth structure while delivering functionally superior and aesthetically pleasing restorations.
We’ll work with you to determine the best restoration option for your specific situation and guide you through every step of the process. To learn more about our inlay and onlay services or to schedule your consultation, call us today at (713) 839-0900 or visit our contact form.
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