How To Enhance Your Oral Structure With The Use Of Dental Inlays and Onlays

There are several dental procedures that dentists use today to provide remedies for dental mishaps. However, it is important to get the right treatments after you have consulted your dentist. Not all dental procedures are applicable for every patient. Dental problems like broken, cracked, chipped, or a misplaced tooth needs restorative dental procedures. If you get involved in an accident causing sudden tooth loss, you should see a dentist immediately for dental treatments like dental fillings, dental caps, dental implants, or dental inlays and onlays. In the article, we will be focusing on dental inlays and onlays.

Dental inlays and onlays are dental treatments given to dental patients by an experienced dentist to close up gaps and holes in the teeth when fillings and dental crowns can not apply to such dental situations. Dental fillings are used to restore small cavities while dental caps or crowns are for the restoration of teeth with bigger cavities. Some situations may not require a dental filling because it not enough and a dental cap might not be needed as well because it is too much coverage for a  small cavity. Inlays and onlays are tough custom-made materials that are made up of gold or porcelain to cover cavities in the teeth.

What Are The Differences Between Dental Inlays And Onlays?

Inlays are commonly used to fill up holes around teeth and spaces between the cusps. They are mostly centered on the teeth rather than large spaces. Inlays are constructed or made to fit in the teeth’ shape or color. They are used by dentists to restore the tooth’s surface that has injuries or decay. During the process, the dentists will often take an impression of the patient’s teeth structure and send it to the dental lab for it to be made so that it fits the natural color of the patient’s teeth. However, if you make use of gold inlays, they can be noticeable but there are other types like porcelain or composite materials that are like natural teeth and can also be used for aesthetic reasons. This means that as you’re repairing the damage in your teeth, you’d still look beautiful and have a perfect smile due to the kind of materials that have been used. Inlays are very costly because they give you a beautiful look and fill up cavities that regular dental fillings can not handle.

Onlays are quite different from inlays in the sense that they cover up larger cavities which also involve the cusps and teeth surface with the outer edges of the teeth,  unlike inlays that cover mostly the teeth surface. Dentists often make use of onlays when the decay is too big for dental fillings or inlays. During the process, the dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the affected area before using a drilling tool to drill out the cavity and then clean up the affected area before placing a temporary onlay on the teeth hole. The dentist will then take an impression of your teeth structure to help make the permanent only that will fit your tooth perfectly. An onlay retains the teeth structure, unlike dental crowns that might require the extraction of part of the teeth surfaces and some part of the cusps before they can be placed.

Although there are some differences between inlays and onlays. However, they can be partially compared to a dental crown since they perform some of the functions of a dental crown but not all functions. A dental crown covers the entire tooth but inlays and onlays dental procedure can not be used to cover the entire tooth.

The Benefits Of Inlays And Onlays Dental Procedure For The Restoration Of Damaged Teeth

Dental inlays and onlays have various benefits. Whether you make use of an inlay or only, they’d still work perfectly for the dental issue. You can consult a dentist in New Port Richey for recommendations concerning dental inlays and onlays. First of all, the dentist will examine your teeth and check out which one is best for you.  You can also get dental inlays & onlays around you.

They are strong and less prone to damages. They can last for 5 years to 30 years if you maintain them well and also depending on how many cavities your teeth are exposed to.

Apart from their restorative functions, they can also enhance a person’s appearance especially the porcelain and composite inlays and onlays that are like natural teeth and can fit in to look like the surrounding teeth thus making them barely noticeable.

Dental inlays and onlays can also be used to treat tooth decay. They are the best option for tooth decay treatment that doesn’t involve the extraction of any teeth structure.

According to Dr. Mitul Patel, “There are no harsh side effects related to dental inlays and onlays since they don’t require the removal of teeth structure. However, you might feel sore or have temporary irritations for few days after the procedure, which is normal. But if these side effects persist for a longer period, you should see an emergency dentist near you”.