Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

Unlike silver amalgam fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays will not expand or contract significantly, in response to temperature changes caused by hot or cold foods. Inlays and onlays can replace silver fillings to create a healthier, more natural-looking smile. In treating dental decay, or fractured and cracked teeth, inlays and onlays help to eliminate tooth sensitivity and eventual tooth loss. Inlays and onlays also offer the following benefits:

• Since they can be made from tooth-colored material, including porcelain and composite resin, inlays and onlays are virtually invisible.
• The use of inlays and onlays requires less tooth reduction than does the use of metal fillings. This allows dentists to conserve more of a patient’s natural tooth structure in the treatment process.
• Because of the way inlays and onlays are made and bonded into the tooth structure, they help to strengthen teeth from inside out .
• The durable material from which inlays and onlays are made helps them last up to 30 years, much longer than that of conventional fillings.
• By saving decayed teeth, inlays and onlays prevent the need for more extensive treatment later on.
• However, if you have lost too much tooth structure due to decay or fractures caused by your old silver fillings, inlays and onlays may not be an option for you and you may need crowns to protect and strengthen your teeth.