Fillings are used to fill small cavities. Crowns are used when there is deeper decay and there is a need to cover a fracture to protect the broken tooth. In some cases however a filling is not strong enough and a crown removes too much tooth structure to protect the decay. This is where dental inlays and onlays are ideal as they aren’t as invasive as a crown which requires your natural tooth to be reshaped. An inlay only fills in the cavity in your tooth. An onlay fills a cavity and helps protect the cusps of your tooth. Onlays are similar to crowns but they do not cover the entire surface of a tooth like a crown. Both inlays and onlays are made from the same porcelain materials and they both cover different areas of the tooth to properly protect the tooth’s strength when their is tooth decay.

When tooth decay or damage is too extensive to be restored with a simple composite or amalgam dental filling an inlay and onlay may be recommended by your dentist in Smile Hub. Inlay and Onlays remove less tooth structure than a full-coverage crown so they’re an excellent conservative option for ensuring your tooth’s optimum function and aesthetics.

Inlays and Onlays are larger fillings that are made in a dental laboratory using tooth-coloured porcelain instead of composite material. An inlay replaces the inner chewing surface of your back tooth. An onlay replaces a larger area of your tooth which includes the inner chewing surface plus one or must cusps of your broken or decayed tooth.

Inlays and Onlays are a restoration solution for teeth that have mild to moderate dental decay or damage. Simple cavities can be filled using white composite material and are typically completed within one visit to Smile Hub Dental Clinic. Getting porcelain dental inlays and onlays is a two stage process that involves waiting for the dental technician to mill the porcelain restoration.

When a white or metal filling is not enough to fix a badly broken or decayed tooth then a full coverage crown may be recommended. If the cracked or broken tooth needs a medium sized restoration an Inlay or Onlay may be a more conservative treatment option. For a simple small-sized broken or decayed tooth a dental filling is usually adequate to restore function and aesthetics. Please contact Smile Hub Dental Clinic immediately if you have a decayed, broken, cracked or chipped tooth as treating this damage in a timely manner will help avoid a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction if the decay progresses too close to the nerve.

Inlays and onlays are strong and longer-lasting when compared to dental fillings. Inlays and onlays are most suitable for large restorations in the back teeth. Inlays and onlays offer strength and durability while providing a naturally aesthetic appearance for your tooth. When contrasted with a dental filling, inlays and onlays provide much more strength and integrity to the weakened and damaged tooth. Your inlay and onlay can be maintained in the exact same way as your natural teeth with twice daily toothbrushing, flossing and using a high quality mouthwash with a minimal alcohol content. Make sure to attend regular 6 monthly dental check-ups and cleanings with Smile Hub Dental Clinic to maintain your optimum oral healthcare.

Fillings are not only functional but can be aesthetic looking too. The materials of white composite fillings can vary but mostly consist of glass particles, porcelain and a synthetic resin along with a setting agent.

White fillings are not as long-lasting as inlays and onlays. White fillings also discolour and they’re not as strong in back teeth compared with ceramic inlays and onlays. The life expectancy of a white filling depends on where it is in the mouth and how heavy the patient’s bite is when the teeth meet together.

This is a two stage process which differs from a routine white (composite) or metal (amalgam) filling. The damaged tooth and the surrounding gum will be numbed so that patients feel little discomfort during the procedure. A mold will be taken from an impression of your damaged tooth. This will be used as a guide for a cast. The cast will be used to produce the inlay or onlay ceramic restoration. Your dentist in Smile Hub Dental Clinic will check the fit of the porcelain inlay or onlay before securing it in place with bonding material. Any minor adjustments to the bite and polishing of the tooth can then be completed so that the finished result looks completely natural in your mouth.

No. At Smile Hub Dental Care we guarantee all of our patients a pain-free and stress-free dental experience. We use high strength local anaesthetics to ensure your comfort throughout your inlay and onlay treatment. In the 24 hours post-treatment pain is rare and is very manageable with over-the-counter medicines if required. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic, we’re Dublin’s Premier Dental Sedation Provider for nervous adults and children. We are the dental phobic patient experts!