Why Inlays and Onlays Could Be the Perfect Solution for You
Having a beautiful smile goes beyond excellent aesthetics. It is a symbol of good oral health that exudes vibrancy. Even some people can know your overall health by examining the state of your mouth! So, if you have dental issues such as cracks or tooth decay that might damage your teeth, then it is time to seek treatment.
When it comes to treating tooth decay and other issues that might damage your enamel, fillings, and crowns are usually the common options. However, we have inlays and onlays in Worcester, MA, that can step in whenever fillings and crowns cannot solve the dental problem.
The Basics About Inlays and Onlays
Teeth inlays and onlays are far less common than dental fillings or tooth crowns, but it doesn’t mean they are less valuable. Like every other dental treatment, inlays and onlays have their special purpose.
For instance, your tooth suffers damage due to tooth decay that is too extensive for a tooth filling but not too extensive for you to go for a dental crown. What do you do? This is where dental inlays and onlays come in handy.
Inlays are your best bet when there is minimal damage to your teeth. Our dentist will only recommend an inlay if a tooth filling cannot strengthen your tooth. Inlays are the best solution to repair your tooth’s chewing surface. They are designed to repair your teeth without affecting your cusps; however, they fit perfectly in the hollow of your tooth.
Our dentist usually uses porcelain or composite resin to fabricate the inlay. This is why the inlay is sturdier than a tooth filling.
On the other hand, we have onlays, which are the ideal solution when your tooth’s cusps and biting surface are damaged. They are the perfect solution when you have a large cavity that a standard filling cannot fill because the tooth will crack.
So, onlays will be used to cover the tooth from the chewing surface to the tooth cusps. You might come across the term partial crowns and might get confused, wondering what they are. But partial crowns is another term that we use to refer to onlays. They are named so because they operate almost the same way as crowns, the main difference being that onlays aren’t invasive and cover a portion of your tooth.
Inlays and onlays are sometimes referred to as indirect fillings, which simply means they are fabricated outside of the mouth in a lab.
Types of Inlays and Onlays
For quite a long time, inlays and onlays were fabricated from gold. However, we have evolved, and now you have other options, such as:
- Composite Resin
- Gold
- Porcelain
These types of dental inlays and onlays are created from powdered glass and acrylic. They resemble your teeth, so they are aesthetically pleasing. Our dentist in Worcester, MA usually uses a shade guide to pick out the right shade that will blend with the rest of your teeth.
The main issue that plagues composite resin is that it is not stain-resistant, so you can expect them to change color when they come into contact with teeth-staining foods.
Gold has been the preferred material for quite some time. Gold is sturdy, which means that its durability is not in question. You will not worry about them cracking when you chew food or if you grind your teeth. However, they aren’t tooth-colored, making the other options seem better.
Porcelain inlays and onlays have excellent aesthetics, which will resemble your teeth. They are stain resistant, so you won’t have to worry about teeth staining. They are malleable and better-looking than composite resin, gold inlays, and onlays.
Why Go For Inlays and Onlays?
Some of the reasons that can draw you to go for inlays and onlays are:
- Lesser Expansion and Contraction
- Natural-Looking
- Durability
Metal amalgams will always expand and contract because of the body temperature fluctuations resulting from taking hot and cold foods and drinks.
Since there are porcelain inlays and onlays, which mimic the color and sheen of your teeth, they tend to be the best restoration options. They give you better aesthetics than any other option.
Inlays and onlays are more durable than traditional tooth fillings because they are made from porcelain. Fillings are known to last about six years, but inlays and onlays can serve you for almost three decades.
The Takeaway
Inlays and onlays are your best bet if the damage to your teeth hasn’t affected the cusps or is not extensive enough for a filling or not too extensive for a dental crown. You will get better results if you go for the ones fashioned from porcelain. Contact us at Tatnuck Family Dental Care if you need inlays and onlays in Worcester, MA.
