Got cracks in your teeth or broke a tooth? You don’t have to live with it. Pay a visit to your dentist and he/will recommend a treatment for you. Inlays and onlays are a kind of restorative dental treatment that is used to restore cracked and broken teeth.

Inlays and onlyas are used typically in cases where a dental filling does not satisfy and there is no requirement of crowns. Inlay and onlays are made of porcelain, gold, or composite resins.
While an inlay covers one tooth, onlays are spread over the chewing surface of multiple teeth.

Inlays and onlays are of two types: direct inlays/onlays and indirect inlays/onlays. The direct inlay/onlay is put directly on the tooth. It is then taken out and hardened, and then fixed once again. The indirect inlay/onlay takes longer to be fixed. It is prepared in stages: first a mould is prepared by using a soft material on the tooth; next, the mould helps prepare the actual inlay/onlay in the laboratory. The patient is given temporary filling while the inlay/onlay is being made.

When fixing the inlay/onlay, the area around the tooth is numbed using an anesthesia. Then, depending on the type of inlay/onlay required, the procedure is carried. Typically, it requires two visits for the treatment. However, with technological advancements, it is possible to fix a direct inlay/onlay in a single visit.

You no longer need to feel embarrassed if you have cracks on your teeth. Your dentist can treat your teeth and help you smile with confidence.

Tags: dental procedure, dental treatment, inlays, onlays, restorative dental treatment