Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

A porcelain inlay is a custom-made filling of porcelain, generally used to cover up large cavities and fractures on teeth. If you have a large defective filling or a severely decayed tooth, Dr. Rajpal will design custom porcelain inlays in a dental laboratory, which will then be cemented into the tooth. While porcelain crowns involve a full replacement of the external tooth, porcelain inlays involve only a partial replacement. Porcelain inlays enhance the durability and strength of the affected tooth.

Porcelain inlays preserve more of the patient’s natural tooth and look more natural. Additionally, inlays last much longer than normal fillings and provide a more realistic shape and surface to the damaged tooth. If you have a cavity that’s too large for a composite filling but not large enough for a dental crown, your dentist may recommend a porcelain inlay. The dentist will carefully examine your teeth, take impressions, and ensure you’re a suitable candidate before proceeding.

If a filling isn’t enough for your cavity and a dental crown is too much, your dentist may recommend porcelain inlays or onlays. Both inlays and onlays are types of cosmetic dental restorative procedures used to remedy low to moderate levels of cavities and dental decay. But depending on the severity and location of the dental decay, the dentist may recommend inlays or onlays to protect your teeth. But what is the difference between porcelain inlays and onlays?

The difference lies in the location of the filling material. Porcelain inlays are fitted into the tooth’s cavity, while porcelain onlays cover the entire outer edges of the decayed teeth to strengthen their structure. Porcelain inlays usually fill the areas between the cusps, whereas porcelain onlays cover the cusps. Both porcelain inlays and porcelain onlays protect damaged and decayed teeth, but on a spectrum of dental restoration, onlays are closer to dental crowns, and inlays are closer to fillings.