Inlays & Onlays – Wellington NZ

Inlays & onlays fill in parts of a tooth’s surface damaged by decay. They are used on the molars & premolars—specifically, teeth that have multiple “cusps,” which are raised points on their outer edge. Inlays fill in & repair the parts of the tooth between the cusps while onlays do the same & also cover one or more cusps. Otherwise the two treatments are the same in function & purpose. Once placed, inlays & onlays may actually be stronger than the original, pre-decay tooth.

Virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, inlays & onlays discreetly restore teeth to an optimal state of health. They resemble natural teeth so closely that only you will know the truth. And now with the CEREC^® system, we can complete same-day inlays & onlays, avoiding the need to use temporaries, which usually require multiple visits, making it even easier on your schedule.

Typically, inlays & onlays are the chosen solution when a standard filling would not provide enough for the damaged tooth & a crown would be excessive because it would require restructuring the whole tooth instead of just the damaged areas. They may also be used when a filling would weaken the remaining tooth structure too much to be a viable solution. An inlay or onlay is a spectacular solution to these problems because it supports & strengthens a damaged tooth without requiring extra reshaping. Despite this, there are still situations in which a filling or crown is the more appropriate restoration. Consult your dentist to find out if an inlay or onlay is right for you.