To repair damage to the tooth’s biting surface, rather than using a simple filling, or a crown, a dentist will often use an inlay, or an onlay. Inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, gold, or composite or ceramic resin, although porcelain is now becoming the material of choice because of its strength and potential to match the natural colour of your tooth.
An inlay is similar to a filling and lies inside the cusp tips of the tooth. They are custom-made to fit the prepared cavity and are then cemented into place. An onlay is a more extensive reconstruction that covers one or more cusps of a tooth. Onlays are indicated in situations where a substantial reconstruction is required. However, more of the tooth structure can be conserved compared to the placement of a crown.
Patients should avoid biting hard objects in order not to fracture the porcelain. Normal brushing and flossing, use fluoride mouth rinse and toothpaste as prescribed by your dentist. Same dietary restriction for the longest restorative life. Porcelain inlays/onlays can successfully achieve both aesthetic and functional results in restoring discoloured or metal posterior teeth. More conservative than full crown.
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