Inlays/Onlays
When a tooth requires a restoration and the cavity is too wide or too deep to have a Composite Filling, most of times Inlays & Onlays are the recommended restorations.
They are durable and dependable restorations made of porcelain or gold and withstand the chewing forces.
Inlays & Onlays do not cover in full the tooth structure as the dental crowns above the gum line but the good thing is that conserve the tooth structure.
Nowadays, dentists do not want to remove healthy tooth structure as it would be needed for a dental crown, at the same time they do not want to place a composite filling that will fall out or break, so there is a middle ground.
How is Inlays and Onlays Procedure done ?
First Visit: Examining and preparing the tooth
We will carefully assess the tooth that will receive the Inlay or Onlay to see if it also requires any other treatments. This may include root canal treatment or treatment to resolve any pre-existing gum problems.
Firstly, we anaesthetise your tooth and the gum tissue around the tooth. Then we very carefully shape your tooth. After shaping the tooth, we will take the impression or mould of the tooth to receive the Inlay or Onlay.
Our dental technician will use this impression and fabricate the Inlay or Onlay for your tooth. This may take one to two weeks. We will send you home with a well-fitting temporary filling so that you can continue to use your tooth during the time the Inlay or Onlay is made.
Second Visit: Receiving the Inlay or Onlay
At your second visit, your dentist will check the fit and colour of the Inlay or Onlay. If everything is acceptable, a local anaesthetic will be used to numb the tooth, your dentist will remove the temporary filling and the Inlay or Onlay is permanently cemented in.
How long the Inlays & Onlays last?
You should expect a well fitting Inlay or Onlay to work reliably well for over a decade. The life span of Inlay or Onlay depends on the amount of “wear and tear” a particular Inlay or Onlay undergoes. Also how well you follow good oral hygiene practices will affect the life expectancy of your restoration. Finally, your personal mouth-related habits such as grinding or clenching your teeth will have a significant effect on the prognosis of your Inlay or Onlay.
To find out more about Inlays and Onlays or to book an appointment at Krystal Dental, call 020 8995 6398 or email to dentist@krystaldental.co.uk