Las Vegas Inlays & Onlays

At Advent Dental, we work with our patients to keep their smiles whole and healthy for life through regular preventive dentistry appointments. When we do need to provide restorative treatments, we always want to use the most conservative options. In the past, that meant a filling or a dental crown. However, some patients experience tooth decay or damage too severe for a filling but really not extensive enough to require an entire dental crown. For these patients, we’re happy to provide dental inlays and onlays. While these restorations are not as commonly used, they can allow patients to keep significantly greater amounts of health tooth structure while fully repairing a damaged or decayed tooth. If you want to learn more about inlays, onlays, or any of our dentistry services, call our Las Vegas dental office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon.

What is an Inlay?

An inlay is a restoration that repairs teeth when decay or damage is contained within the cusps of the tooth. Cusps are the raised parts of teeth. An inlay is crafted to fit between them restoring the lost tooth structure and strengthening the remaining enamel.

What is an Onlay?

An onlay is a restoration that repairs damage that affects one or more of the cusps of your teeth. It’s crafted to replace the lost tooth cusp and surrounding damaged tissue, recreating natural structure.

Which one do I Need?

Before we begin, we’ll review your smile and help you determine whether you need a filling, inlay, onlay, or full dental crown. We’ll review each of these treatment options with you and help you to decide which solution will fully repair your damaged smile while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tooth enamel. We always want to use the most conservative option, so patients keep as much of their natural, healthy tooth structure as possible.

How are Inlays & Onlays Placed?

Inlays and onlays are placed during two visits to our office. During your first appointment, we prepare your tooth. This requires us to remove any damaged tissue. Then, we capture an impression of your prepared tooth. Finally, a temporary restoration is placed to protect your prepared tooth until your final restoration is completed. When we receive the inlay or onlay from our dental lab, we’ll exchange the temporary for your final, custom restoration.

How do I Care for my Inlay or Onlay?

Once in place, you can brush and floss as usual and visit us twice a year for exams and cleanings. We may recommend making some changes to the oral hygiene products you use. In most cases, we use ceramic to craft our inlays and onlays. To avoid excessive dental wear, soft bristled toothbrushes and minimally abrasive toothpastes are essentially. Depending on the type of restoration, you may also want to use a waxed floss to avoid the risk of pulling around the edges of your inlay or onlay. With proper care, your restoration will stay flawless and functional for ten or more years.