Inlays and onlays are types of metal-free fillings used to restore damage to the chewing surface of your back teeth. Made from porcelain they are stronger than traditional fillings because they are cemented to your tooth rather than packed into a cavity. Inlays and onlays are both made from a mold so they fit your tooth perfectly. But there are differences.

Inlays
Inlays fit tightly within the grooves of your teeth, between the contours (called cusps). This makes them smaller than dental crowns and onlays.

Onlays
Onlays also fit within the grooves of your teeth, but wrap over the tips of your cusps. This way, they cover some but not the entire chewing surface of your tooth—as crowns do.

Alternative to Crowns and Amalgam Fillings
Inlays and onlays can be used as an alternative to crowns and are used when your tooth has suffered damage, but still retains a high level of structural integrity. Dr. Alhadef will determine what is best for you by examining the amount of tooth structure remaining after trauma or decay has occurred.

Because amalgam fillings are made of metal rather than ceramic, they expand and contract with temperatures changes at a different rate than your enamel, which is a ceramic. Because the amalgam fillings are packed tightly into cavity, when it expands with warming, they put destructive pressure on the tooth and cause it to weaken. When they contract with cooling, they can pull away from the tooth, admitting bacteria and food into the cavity. Conversely, inlays and onlays hold your tooth together, which strengthens it and prolongs its life.

Since both inlays and onlays are made at a dental laboratory from an impression of your natural teeth, they require at least two dentist’s visits.

If you are considering inlays or onlays in the Dallas, Texas area, contact general dentist Dr. Gary Alhadef to receive more information.