Your Edmonton Invisalign® Provider
Edmonton dentists Dr. Randy Crowell and Dr. Mark Southwood offer dental inlays and onlays as cosmetic restorations for repairing damaged or misshapen teeth.
Request AppointmentInlays
An inlay restoration is a custom made filling made of gold, or tooth-colored porcelain.
Porcelain inlays are popular because they resemble your natural tooth and can be made and inserted the same day. A porcelain gold inlay is made by a professional dental laboratory and is permanently cemented into the tooth by your dentist.
As with most dental restorations, inlays are not always permanent and may someday require replacement.
Reasons for inlays:
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Cosmetic enhancement
- Decayed teeth
- Fractured fillings
- Large fillings
The Inlay Process
Dr. Crowell will prepare your tooth for restoration, similarly to traditional treatment methods. Your prepared tooth will be coated with a safe, tasteless powder.
Cerec then uses a digital 3D camera to create an optical impression. This digital image replaces the physical impression required in traditional procedures.
The computer-aided design software allows Dr. Crowell to design every precise detail of your restoration, bringing your tooth back to its natural form, function and beauty.
A gold inlay procedure requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several impressions (molds) that will be used to create your custom inlay and a temporary restoration.
What happens during your appointment?
While the tooth is numb, the dentist will remove any decay and/or old filling materials. The space will then be thoroughly cleaned and prepared, shaping the surface to properly fit an inlay restoration.
A temporary filling will be applied to protect the tooth while your inlay is made by an off-site dental laboratory. At your second appointment, your new inlay will be cemented into place. A few adjustments may be necessary to ensure a proper fit and that your bite is comfortable.
You will receive care instruction at the conclusion of your treatment. Good oral hygiene practices, a proper diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new inlay.
Onlays
An onlay restoration is a custom made filling made of composite material, gold or tooth-colored porcelain. Porcelain onlays are popular because they resemble your natural teeth and can be made and inserted the same day just as an inlay.
An onlay is sometimes also referred to as a partial crown. Porcelain gold onlays are made by a professional dental laboratory and are permanently cemented onto the tooth by your dentist.
Onlays can be utilized to repair teeth that have large defective fillings or have been damaged by decay or trauma. They are an alternative to crowns (caps) because less tooth structure is removed in the preparation of onlays.
Onlays are essentially identical to inlays with the exception that one or more of the chewing cusps have also been affected and need to be included in the restoration.
