Sometimes, a conventional dental crown or dental filling may not be the right treatment when teeth are weak, worn, or chipped. In these cases, our team at James Fitzgerald Dental offers a different treatment, that is just as effective.
Porcelain Inlays & Onlays
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An alternative to dental crowns
We are one of the premier dental clinics in Brisbane, CA, to offer inlays and onlays.
Visit us today for a check-up to see if this is the right treatment for you.
What are inlays and onlays?
Inlays and onlays are dental restoration treatments that can help fill in broken/chipped or cavity affected teeth. They are used in place of traditional dental crowns and fillings, when:
- Teeth are fractured or decayed partially
- The cavity is too big for a filling to be used
- Breakage or cavity doesn’t require a crown
- The breakage or cavity is on a tooth cusp
Inlays are small restorations that are typically used to fill in a single tooth cusp (one of the four or five small bumps found on a molar). Inlays are filled inside the cusp as an alternative to dental fillings.
Onlays are used to fill in multiple cusps on the tooth and they are filled on the surface of the affected tooth, but unlike a dental crown, an onlay doesn’t cover the entire surface of the tooth but only a section.
Porcelain inlays and onlays can return your natural smile
Although inlays and onlays can be made using materials like composite resin, silver, and gold, there’s no material better than porcelain.
Porcelain resembles real teeth in color and texture. When fitted onto the damaged teeth, your porcelain inlays or onlays will look very authentic and no one will know the difference. Porcelain restorations also have a very long lifespan, sometimes lasting from 10 to 12 years. They are also less expensive than metal inlays and onlays, making them great for people on a budget. Finally, porcelain is a very stain-resistant material. You can maintain beautiful white teeth when you have porcelain inlays and onlays.
At James Fitzgerald Dental, we source the finest quality porcelain inlays and onlays for our patients. Our priority is to ensure you get the most natural-looking results. Contact us today for more information.
How we fit inlays and onlays
Our Brisbane CA dental experts start the inlay and onlay process by completing a comprehensive dental evaluation. We take Panograph x-rays and 3D x-rays of your teeth to identify the number of dental restorations you need, their placement, and if inlays and onlays will work for these or not.
Then, these 3D x-rays and digital scans of your teeth are used to design customized inlays/onlays for you and the designs are sent to a reputable manufacturer. We work with leading dental restoration manufacturers in America and you can trust us for premium-quality restorations.
Once they arrive at our clinic, you will be asked to come in. We’ll use specialized medical-grade bonding material to secure the inlays and onlays in place. The procedure can take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the number of restorations you need.
Caring for your inlays and onlays
It’s important to follow these tips to ensure your porcelain inlays and onlays last long:
- For the first week, stick to a soft-food diet, as this will allow your restorations to settle in-place.
- Avoid really hot or cold beverages and very hard food, as they can damage your inlays and onlays.
- Follow a thorough brushing and flossing regime, to prevent your teeth from decaying.
If you have any questions, feel free to consult Dr. James Fitzgerald and his team. We are here if you need us.
