Inlays & Onlays

Once tooth decay becomes extensive, a filling may not be strong enough to restore the tooth. In that case a stronger restoration is prescribed – the onlay, inlay or crown. Instead of “filling” the decayed portion of the tooth, a ceramic crown or onlay, made in a dental laboratory, is placed over the natural tooth; this reinforces the tooth. Onlays are more conservative than crowns as they cover only a portion of the tooth. Onlay margins are placed supragingivally (above the gum line) so as not to compromise periodontal health. Onlays are made from tooth-colored material and are color-matched to adjacent tooth structure.

An Onlay is a minimally invasive alternative to a crown.