Inlays & Onlays – Torrance, CA.
When more than half of a tooth’s biting surface is damaged, we often use an inlay or onlay to restore the tooth’s anatomy.
What Are Dental Inlays and Onlays?
Dental inlays and onlays are custom restorations used to repair teeth affected by decay, damage, or wear while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible. Crafted from durable, tooth-colored materials, they blend seamlessly with your smile and provide long-lasting strength.
An inlay fits within the grooves of a tooth, while an onlay extends over one or more cusps to restore larger areas of damage. Both options offer a conservative alternative to full crowns and help strengthen weakened teeth.
How Are Inlays and Onlays Placed?
Restoring a damaged tooth with an inlay or onlay typically requires two visits to ensure a precise fit and long-lasting results.
First Visit
During your initial appointment, the damaged or decayed portion of the tooth is carefully removed, and the tooth is prepared for restoration. Detailed impressions or digital scans are then taken to create a custom inlay or onlay. A temporary restoration may be placed to protect the tooth while your final restoration is being fabricated.
Second Visit
Considerations for Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are durable, conservative restorations that help strengthen and protect damaged teeth while preserving more natural tooth structure than traditional crowns. They are custom-made to fit precisely, providing excellent function, durability, and a natural appearance.
Because they are bonded directly to the tooth, inlays and onlays can reinforce weakened areas and help prevent further damage. With proper care and regular dental visits, they can provide long-lasting results for many years.
A Closer Look at Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations that repair teeth with more damage than a filling can handle, but not enough to need a full crown. Often called partial crowns, they are crafted in a lab to fit precisely and preserve as much healthy tooth as possible.
Inlay vs. Onlay
- An inlay fits within the grooves of a tooth, between the cusps
- An onlay covers one or more cusps and a larger portion of the tooth’s surface
Why Choose Inlays or Onlays
Because they are made from durable porcelain or composite and bonded securely, inlays and onlays are strong, long-lasting, and blend in with your natural teeth. They conserve more of your natural tooth than a crown, which helps keep the tooth healthy longer.
The Treatment Process
We remove the damaged area and take an impression, which is used to craft your custom restoration. At a follow-up visit, we bond it into place and check your bite for a comfortable, precise fit.
Explore More Restorative Dentistry Treatments
Repair and rebuild your smile for lasting comfort.
Rebuild damaged or missing teeth for lasting function.
Learn more →Dental CrownsDurable caps that protect and restore weak teeth.
Learn more →Dental BridgesFill the gap from missing teeth with a fixed bridge.
Learn more →Dental FillingsTooth-colored fillings that repair cavities discreetly.
Learn more →Amalgam FillingsStrong, time-tested fillings for back teeth.
Learn more →Root Canal TherapySave an infected tooth with gentle modern care.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
An inlay fits within the grooves of a tooth between the cusps, while an onlay also covers one or more of the cusps. Both repair larger damage than a filling can handle.
They are very durable and often last 10 to 15 years or more with good oral hygiene and regular checkups.
When enough healthy tooth remains, inlays and onlays are a more conservative option because they preserve more of your natural tooth than a full crown.