Your dentist has probably advised you to get a filling or a crown to cover your cavities. One treatment you may be unfamiliar with but may wish to consider alongside these other services are dental inlays and onlays.
Fillings are typically used to repair minor cavities, while crowns are utilized to cover significant damage. When neither option is especially suitable, dental inlays and onlays near you are used to perfectly repair your smile. They are larger than fillings but not intrusive like crowns, the latter of which may require reshaping your tooth in a certain way. In this post, you can get to know the difference between inlay and onlay to ensure that you have enough understanding of the two oral care options:
What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?
Depending on your current dental situation, a filling may prove insufficient and a crown may be too excessive to address the level of tooth decay you’re dealing with. If you require something "just right" to fill in such gaps, many dental experts will then turn to dental inlays and onlays. They provide more substantial support than fillings but are less aesthetically obvious than crowns.
Learn About the Difference Between Dental Inlays and Onlays
Inlays are designed to decrease wear and tear on the tooth's surface. When your teeth's cusps have experienced harm or decay, they are a great restorative option. Inlays can be made by dentists out of a number of materials, such as gold, composite resin, and ceramic. Composite resin and ceramic can both be colored to match the shade of your teeth to help you achieve the best appearance possible.
Dental inlays and onlays differ from one another due to the fact that an onlay will typically cover a larger part than an inlay. An onlay will also cover your tooth's cusps, whereas an inlay merely covers the space in between the cusps.
What’s the Difference?
The difference between the two options is in the method utilized to fill the empty space after eliminating an existing cavity using a drill. A filling is a speedier procedure that may be completed in just one appointment and uses composite material or amalgam to cover the region.
While they can be designed in a dental office, inlays are normally made of ceramic or gold and fill a space with a single piece that is typically fabricated in a lab. Bacteria and food will enter the space if the inlay is not made properly to fit the form and dimensions of the area.
Inlays and Onlays: How Long Do They Last?
The strength and longevity of inlays and onlays are two of their key advantages. An inlay should last anywhere from five to thirty years. Due to a number of reasons, dental practitioners cannot guarantee how long they will last. If they are not taken care of, some may experience greater wear and tear than others and may become damaged or fail earlier than expected. How effectively the patient practices dental hygiene after having inlays placed is one of the main considerations. This includes brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and adhering to any particular dental advice. In order to ensure that the inlays or onlays are firmly in place, you must visit the dentist for follow-up appointments to assess the stability and health of the restorations.
You should take all reasonable steps to lessen wear and tear on the inlays and onlays, in addition to maintaining good hygiene. Teeth damage and breaking can result from grinding. The dentist can offer night guards or other treatments to prevent teeth from being damaged if a patient grinds their teeth while they sleep. Food that is chewy or hard can also shorten the lifespan of inlays and onlays because they can stick to the material, while hard food can chip or even break the material off.
Therefore, even though there is no concrete estimate of how long they will last, you should anticipate that they will last longer based on how well you take care of them and the state of your dental health as a whole.
Do Onlays and Inlays Have Insurance Coverage?
Many insurance companies offer coverage for inlays and onlays. It is because they are strictly cosmetic. You check with your insurance provider to know whether they will cover the treatment or not. Both treatments share similarities but serve distinct and distinct purposes.
Reach Out to Us at Cambie Broadway Dental
Working with a skilled dentist to choose the dental onlays and inlays that are best for your oral health requirements is essential. Our skilled cosmetic dentist in Cambie is available right away to address all of your concerns and help you get the most out of your onlay and inlay near you. Make an appointment with our dentist now to receive top-notch dental care!
Dental Inlays and Onlays Procedure in India.
Both inlays and onlays are considered “indirect” fillings, meaning that they are fabricated outside the mouth (generally at a dental laboratory), and then bonded to the tooth by the dentist.
This is in contrast to a “direct” filling, which is applied directly to the cavity by the dentist in one office visit.
An indirect filling is considered an “inlay” when it fits within the little points or “cusps” of a back (premolar or molar) tooth.
