Inlays & Onlays
When a damaged or decayed molar needs more than a filling but doesn’t quite need a crown, Dr. Noorda may recommend a porcelain inlay or onlay. These custom dental restorations require very little tooth preparation to restore compromised teeth – even ones with major structural problems such as fractures.
While a crown covers all of the tooth's surfaces, inlays and onlays cover just the chewing surfaces. An inlay fits inside the bumps, or cusps, of a tooth and is generally small in size. Dr. Noorda applies inlays to restore teeth with mild to moderate damage. An onlay covers one or more cusps of a tooth to provide restoration and protection and can be used to restore a structurally unsound tooth.
Inlays and onlays take two office visits, one to design the repair and prepare the tooth, and one to attach the custom-created porcelain piece. They’re created in a lab that specializes in custom dental restorations.