Farmington Family and Implant Dentistry
Dental inlays & onlays Farmington
Dental inlays and onlays, also known as indirect fillings, are dental restorations used for mild to moderate decay and damage. An inlay or onlay is often needed when a filling isn’t sufficient enough yet there is still enough healthy tooth remaining to avoid needing a dental crown. Our Farmington dentist will do a thorough examination of your tooth to determine the level of decay that has taken place and proceed with the best course of treatment.
What are inlays & onlays?
A dental inlay fits in the top cusps of the tooth where an onlay extends over the cusps of the tooth and is a bit more extensive. At our office we do porcelain or ceramic onlay. Gold was the traditional material used but due to strength and matching tooth color, ceramic has become a very popular choice. Onlays can be a conservative approach to dental crowns saving time and money when appropriate.
The dental inlay & onlay procedure
Inlays and onlays are typically a two visit procedure, whereas a dental filling is molded to the tooth during the visit. However, with our dental office, we can place inlays and onlays in a single visit unlike many other dental offices. We can do this because we utilize CEREC, technology that allows our team to scan your mouth, design your inlay or onlay, mill it right in office and then place in your mouth.
Procedure With CEREC:
The filling, decay and/or damage is removed from the tooth and the dentist will take an oral scan of your mouth and tooth needing the restoration. This oral scan allows our office to skip the messy and uncomfortable impressions for patients. Instead, the scan produces a 3D image that the CEREC software then generates restoration proposals for your inlay/onlay. Once Dr. El-Halaby is happy with what was generated, the specs are sent over to a milling unit right in office where the inlay/onlay is milled in real time. This eliminates the need for a temporary restoration or from having to make two appointments.
Once the inlay or onlay has been milled it is placed on the tooth to make sure it is a smooth, snug fit. Our dentist will also make sure no occlusion issues are taking place before bonding. Once our dentist deems the restoration satisfactory, it is bonded and polished. Patients love being able to have all completed in one single visit.
If you believe you are in need of dental inlays and onlays in Farmington, consult the cosmetic dental office of Farmington Family and Implant Dentistry.
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