INLAYS & ONLAYS
We use inlays instead of fillings to replace a small amount of tooth structure lost due to decay. Like fillings, inlays fit inside the tooth cusps. Cusps are those cone-shaped prominences that stick up from the tooth at the edges. In the past, inlays were made only of gold. But times have changed. Dental treatments, techniques, materials, and technology have all advanced so far in the last five years.
Today’s dental inlays can be made of tooth-colored material such as ceramic/porcelain or special dental composite material. Unsightly “fillings” can be replaced with tooth-colored inlays, which we bond directly to your teeth. This bonding process can improve the strength of the tooth and help seal the inlay to the tooth.
Dental onlays also fit inside your teeth, but they extend onto the chewing surfaces to replace one or more tooth cusps. In the past, onlays were made only of gold. Just as with inlays, over time more patients requested tooth-colored onlays that matched their other teeth. Making onlays out of ceramic/porcelain allows them to be bonded more easily to your teeth. This bonding process can improve the strength of the tooth and help seal the onlay in place. Your dentist can help you determine if a tooth-colored inlay or onlay is right for you.
Unlike dental crowns that require removal of tooth enamel to make space for the crown, inlays and onlays bond directly to the teeth without the need for enamel or structure removal. Your dentist can help you determine whether tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns, inlays or onlays are the best option for your individual tooth condition and needs.
We welcome patients from New Hyde Park and neighboring locations.
