When it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth, fillings, inlays, and onlays are effective treatment options. A filling involves removing the decayed portion of the tooth and filling it with a suitable material such as white plastic (composite or glass ionomer) or amalgam (silver-mercury).
Inlays are custom-made restorations that fit within the walls of the tooth, while onlays covers the cusps of the tooth. These restorations can be made in a laboratory using durable materials like porcelain (such as lithium disilicate or zirconia) or even gold.
Fillings that are made in the laboratory are stronger and longer lasting. These types of restorations are called inlays when they are within the confines of the walls of the tooth, or onlays when the material covers the tooth cusps.
Modern porcelain materials in the form of lithium disilicate or zirconia are very strong and aesthetic. The option for gold inlays and onlays remains as a strong, long-lasting restoration that is kind to the opposing tooth however, the costs and colour often cause patients to choose the white porcelain restoration instead.
At Smiles Dental Aurora, our dentist, Dr. Shasha and Aurora team will prepare your tooth by removing the old filling and the decay and will determine if the tooth is best restored by an in-the-lab fabricated restoration. If the lab is fabricated, a temporary filling will be placed and the inlay/onlay is bonded to place a few days later. Having a local dental lab often allows the restorations to be custom fabricated quickly with on-site adjustments in both the bite, fit and the colour!
