What are inlays and onlays?
Dental inlays and onlays are used when a filling isn’t enough to repair a damaged or decayed tooth and a crown isn’t required. Both are more substantial than fillings but not as intrusive as crowns.
- A dental inlay fills in any cavities and holes in a tooth in the areas between the cusps (highest points of your teeth).
- A dental onlay is used when a larger area of your tooth is damaged, including the cavities and cusps.
How are inlays and onlays done?
The process for both inlays and onlays takes two appointments.
First, we will use the iTero scanner to create a digital impression, eliminating the need for messy or uncomfortable impression putty in your mouth. This enables us to create your tailor made inlay or onlay. We’ll then pop in a temporary filling.
During your second appointment, you will be given a local anaesthetic and we will remove your temporary filling. We’ll then position your inlay or onlay onto your tooth and bond it into place once we’re entirely happy.
