Onlays and inlays are deployed when the cavity is too large for a filling but the structure of the tooth is still sound. Therefore, rather than re-shaping a sound tooth to fit under a crown, your dentist can simply use an inlay or onlay. An inlay fills the gap in the tooth while the onlay is applied to the top of the tooth – but apart from positioning they essentially play the same function.

Usually, inlays and onlays are used to restore the back teeth as these are the teeth that do the most work, are the hardest to clean and often suffer the most from decay or fractures. Sometimes, onlays and inlays are also used to replace older amalgam fillings. The reason for this is because they can be manufactured from tooth-coloured materials, such as composite resin or porcelain, which are more aesthetically pleasing.

There are several advantages to dental inlays and onlays. 

1. They are made of durable materials, which means they can potentially last much longer than fillings- up to 30 years in fact. 
2. Your onlays and inlays are made from tooth-coloured materials, so they have a much greater aesthetic quality than a standard amalgam filling.
3. The most important advantage to onlays and inlays over crowns, is that they allow your dentist to preserve more of your natural tooth. The longer you can keep your natural teeth healthy, the less likely you are to face serious dental work in the future. 

Of course, you must maintain a good standard of oral hygiene by brushing your teeth, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly. However, your newly restored tooth will not require any special treatment when it comes to how you look after it.

Click here to watch a short video about dental onlays and inlays. 

                                                         Onlay

                                                          Inlay