Inlays and Onlays
Restore and preserve your smile
Conservative restoration option for moderate decay, cracks or fractures.
Inlays and Onlays
Restore and preserve your smile
Conservative restoration option for moderate decay, cracks or fractures.
Strength, functionality and good looks are half the story when it comes to inlays and onlays. The other half of their story is how ‘conservative’ they are — meaning they retain the maximum amount of your natural tooth material. That is great news for your oral health today and down the track. Using extremely precise high tech tools with advanced tooth preparation and bonding techniques, our dentists are able to keep as much of your real tooth as possible, and seamlessly integrate ceramic or resin materials for a restoration that looks and feels totally natural.
Advanced materials and high precision digital dentistry processes allow our dentists to skillfully tailor your restoration to finely match your needs, retaining your natural tooth material to the maximum. We use intraoral scanners, virtual smile design, and advanced CAD-CAM processes like CEREC or 3D printing to ensure your inlay or onlay is exceptionally strong, low-maintenance, and long-lasting.
What are inlays and onlays?
Inlays and onlays are indirect restorations, meaning they are custom-crafted in a dental lab for a precise fit. They offer a stronger and more durable solution compared to traditional fillings for moderately damaged teeth. Unlike crowns, inlays and onlays minimise the removal of healthy tooth structure, maximising the preservation of your natural tooth.
Inlays:
Damage to the chewing surface between the cusps (points) of your tooth can be restored using inlays. These are typically stronger than traditional fillings in this location.
Onlays:
Onlays are larger than inlays and extend over one or more cusps of the tooth, sometimes reaching the chewing surface. They are used for more extensive damage that compromises the cusps but doesn’t necessitate a full crown.
Benefits of inlays and onlays
Preserves more natural tooth structure: Unlike crowns, inlays and onlays require removing only the damaged portion of your tooth. This approach preserves more of your healthy tooth structure, maintaining as much of your natural tooth as possible.
Restores integrity and functionality: Large fillings, particularly older amalgam fillings, can weaken the tooth structure. Inlays and onlays, made from high-quality materials like porcelain or composite resin, provide superior strength and stability, restoring the structural integrity of your tooth.
Exceptional strength and longevity: Inlays and onlays are made from high-quality materials such as porcelain or composite resin, known for their strength and durability. With proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, these restorations can last for many years.
Natural-looking aesthetics: We use advanced colour-matching techniques and premium-quality materials to ensure that your inlay or onlay blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, providing a restoration that looks and feels natural.
Precise and comfortable fit: Our team uses digital impressions and advanced design processes to create inlays and onlays that fit your tooth perfectly. This precision enhances the durability of the restoration and ensures a comfortable fit for your bite.
Advanced tools for precise and efficient restorations
During your inlay and onlay procedure at Leeming Dental, accuracy, efficiency and patient comfort are our top priorities. Supporting this, we ensure our staff are comprehensively trained to leverage a wide range of advanced digital dentistry technologies, including:
Intraoral scanners:
These handheld scanners capture highly detailed digital impressions of your teeth. This eliminates the discomfort and mess associated with traditional putty impressions.
CEREC:
We mainly use CEREC in fabricating restorations. This advanced system combines digital design and milling, allowing us to design and fabricate your inlay or onlay in-house. Often, we can complete your restoration in a single visit, minimising appointments and maximising convenience.
3D printing:
In some cases, we use 3D printing to create your inlay or onlay. This additive manufacturing technique offers exceptional precision and allows for complex designs when needed, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal function.
Virtual smile design software:
This computer program allows us to create a digital model of your smile. We can then virtually design your inlay or onlay to ensure a perfect fit and natural appearance before any treatment begins. This allows you to visualise your desired outcome and participate in the planning process.
CEREC inlay and onlay process
Preserves more natural tooth structure: Unlike crowns, inlays and onlays require removing only the damaged portion of your tooth. This approach preserves more of your healthy tooth structure, maintaining as much of your natural tooth as possible.
Preparation: Once the treatment is confirmed, any decay or damaged tooth structure will be carefully removed to prepare the area for the inlay or onlay. This step ensures that the foundation is clean and ready for high accuracy data to be captured and used in the design of the restoration.
Consultation: During your consultation, our dentist will thoroughly assess your teeth to determine if inlays or onlays are the right solution for you. We will discuss your oral health, treatment options and address any concerns you may have.
Digital impressions: We use a high-definition intraoral scanner, such as the CEREC Omnicam, to capture 3D impressions of your prepared teeth and surrounding oral structures. This modern technology provides a more comfortable and accurate experience compared to traditional methods.
Design and fabrication: Using our in-office CEREC system, we will custom-design your inlay or onlay based on the developed treatment plan. The design is then milled from a strong ceramic block right here in our office. This efficient process often allows us to complete the restoration in one visit, minimising the number of appointments and providing immediate results.
Placement and bonding: Once the inlay or onlay is ready, it will be carefully placed and bonded to your tooth. Our dentist will ensure a precise fit and comfortable bite, making any necessary adjustments for optimal results.
Don’t let a damaged tooth compromise your smile!
Your smile is worth restoring. Book a consultation at Leeming Dental today to explore our inlays and onlays solution. These restorations offer a:
- Minimally-invasive, conservative approach to repair
- Strong and natural-looking restoration
- Long-lasting solution for your smile
Our experienced dentists will answer your questions and help you determine if inlays or onlays are right for you. We would love to hear from you and together take the first step towards your healthier, more confident smile!