Inlays and Onlays in Vancouver

Inlays and Onlays

Small cavities in the teeth are easily repaired with a filling, but more serious issues can require a sturdier repair. Inlays and onlays are restorations that are created in a dental laboratory and secured to the teeth. They are most often used to repair teeth with large cavities or more serious damage that covers a significant portion of the tooth. Inlays are used to repair the area within the cusps (ridges) of the molars, while onlays may include one or more of the cusps.

How Inlays and Onlays Differ from Fillings

For dental fillings, the filling material is applied directly to the tooth in a partially fluid form, then hardened onto the tooth. This can be performed in a single appointment. Meanwhile, inlays and onlays are crafted and set in a dental laboratory and then cemented onto the damaged tooth, already in a solid-state form. This often requires two appointments. At the first appointment, we will prepare the tooth being restored and take an impression to ensure the dental lab can create a custom-fit restoration. Once the inlay or onlay has been created, you’ll come back and we’ll secure it in place.

It’s Time to Restore Your Smile

While some people are hesitant to repair issues in their teeth that aren’t currently affecting their ability to chew and eat, restorative dentistry options like inlays and onlays are an excellent way to ensure the natural teeth can remain in place and healthy. By repairing a smile in the early stages of decay or damage, we often prevent more serious procedures from being necessary down the road.