When Are Dental Onlays Or Inlays Recommended?
When Do You Need Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentists near you diagnose and treat diseases related to the tooth and its supporting structures. Fillings, bridges, onlays, and inlays and dental implants in Tampa, FL are all types of restorative dentistry. In addition, restorative dentistry is essential in restoring your teeth to give you a normal bite.
Inlays are ideal for repairing cavities and preventing additional damage. Onlays, on the other hand, are necessary when there is extensive damage to the teeth cusps.
About Onlays and Inlays
Instead of dental fillings, Inlays are a restorative dental treatment used to replace a small amount of tooth structure. Usually, such decay or injury causes the loss of tooth structure. Also, inlays fit the grooves of a tooth without extending over the cusps. Furthermore, inlays can be from gold, porcelain, or composite material, and they are an ideal replacement for defective dental fillings.
Onlays, on the other hand, are similar to inlays. Onlays fit the inside of a tooth, and they can extend to the chewing surface to replace cusps. Also, just like inlays, onlays can be made from porcelain, or ceramic material, matching tooth color.
The significant difference between inlays and onlays is their application area. Inlays are suitable for filling cavities and hollows in a tooth, especially between the cusps. Onlays are ideal for filling cavities, biting surfaces, as well as the cusp. Generally, onlays are suitable for filling larger gaps. However, they cannot cover the entire surface of the tooth.
Benefits Of Onlays and Inlays
There are several benefits inlays and onlays offer. They are resistant to fractures more than dental fillings. Also, this restorative treatment is stain-resistant. Another advantage of this treatment is that it improves teeth’ appearance and is customized to suit a patient’s tooth structure, shape, and color. Furthermore, inlays and onlays can last up to 30 years, depending on maintenance and the patient’s cavity risk.
Materials
Gold, ceramic, or composite material are ideal for making inlays and onlays. Gold is strong, durable, and it can protect weak tooth cusps. Also, the gold onlays and inlays are suitable for tooth positions where appearance is not essential. Although gold onlays and inlays are ideal for replacing repeated cavity structures, they are more expensive and do not blend in with natural tooth color.
Ceramic or porcelain onlays and inlays are less prone to fracture, unlike dental fillings. This material can match a tooth’s color, shape, and function. Furthermore, ceramic onlays and inlays are stain-resistant and blend with natural teeth. Also, ceramic onlays and inlays are rigid and more fragile than gold onlays, thus, increasing the risk of fracture.
Composite material for onlays and inlays are ideal for filling tooth cavities that are too large for fillings. Although composite material performs the same functions are gold and porcelain restorations, it is much weaker. Also, composite onlays and inlays are tooth-colored but not stain-resistant.
Procedure
When you visit a dentist in Tampa for inlays or onlays, the restorative dentist near you will remove any cavity filling present in the tooth. Afterward, the dentist near you prepares and shapes the tooth to allow easy placement of the onlays or inlay. The dentist then takes an impression of the tooth to make a mold. During this stage, you will discuss the material you want for the restoration and the shade if you choose ceramic material.
Before the mold gets ready, the restorative dentist near you will use a temporary filling to seal the cavity, prevent further decay and protect your tooth from sensitivity to hot or cold liquids. At a later visit, the dentist will place the inlay or onlay. During the procedure, you can get an anesthetic on request to numb the pain. Afterward, the dentist near you will remove the temporary filling and cement the inlay or onlay.
Conclusion
Dentists in Tampa recommend onlays and inlays when there are cavities and damage to the teeth cusps. In addition, onlays and inlays are restorative dental treatments ideal for restoring the tooth structure. You can visit New Tampa Smiles today to get your onlays and inlays.