If you are a conservative patient that needs dental care to improve your oral health, there is no shame in asking. Porcelain inlays and onlays in the Rowlett, TX are available for a reason. They are a conservative method or restoring the look and strength of damaged teeth without compromising the natural structure too much.

They both serve a similar purpose as dental fillings or dental crowns. They are made to reinforce the condition of damaged teeth and preserve their life. However, unlike with dental crowns, onlays and inlays do not require the compromise of your natural enamel.

Technically, for a dental crown to be placed, a dentist has to remove the enamel of the tooth to make room for the crown. With onlays and inlays, this is not the case. Only a small part of the enamel is removed to allow them to fit in perfectly. They are customized for an individual tooth according to the space that needs to be filled.

What is The Difference between Porcelain Inlays & Onlays?

When getting inlays and onlays treatment, both cannot be used on one tooth. They might be alike in function, but the two are different.
Inlays are more conservative than onlays. The porcelain material is used inside the biting surface of a tooth. It usually takes up very little space. The material covers the existing gap of the tooth created by the cavity. Since it is made for a natural-looking material, it is hard to tell the difference between a treated tooth and one that is not.

Onlays, on the other hand, take up a little more space than inlays. Onlays fit into the teeth and spill out to cover the biting surface and around. In some cases, onlays cover the crown of the tooth completely. Over the years, onlays were made from materials like gold and other metals. However, today, natural-looking onlays are available. This makes them hardly noticeable when installed.

When Do You Need Inlays & Onlays?

The procedure will only be performed upon the recommendation of a dentist. Once your dentist is through with your dental exam, he/she can come up with a couple of dental treatments for your condition. It is expected that dental fillings, dental crowns or onlays, and inlays will be mentioned for treating similar conditions. Some of the situations that merit onlays and inlays treatment include:

1. Large cavities – dental cavities are very common in oral care. Decaying can be so severe that part of the affected tooth breaks off and is damaged. In this case, your dentist might recommend porcelain onlays or inlays to replace the missing part of the decayed tooth.
2. Endodontically treated teeth – endodontic treatment is useful in treating extreme tooth decay. In that case, the pulp of the tooth has been damaged, causing severe pain. After the treatment, you can get porcelain onlays or inlays to close the hole drilled during the procedure.
3. Broken or chipped teeth – with the part of the tooth that is chipped or broken is not larger than the remaining part, then onlays or inlays are the perfect solutions.

What are The Advantages of Porcelain Inlays & Onlays?

1. They are permanent – porcelain inlays and onlays are not removed after a few months or so. They are placed to last several years. They are only replaced if damaged.
2. They strengthen teeth – porcelain onlays and inlays add reinforcement to a damaged tooth to increase strength and longevity.
3. They are conservative – their natural-looking appearance makes them a perfect cosmetic solution. Besides, the treatment procedure is not as invasive as other methods. This means you do not have to lose the entire enamel of your tooth for the procedure to be done.
4. Less postoperative sensitivity – for most dental procedures, postoperative sensitivity can be the worst part of the treatment. With onlays and inlays, the sensitivity is lower since only a small part of your tooth is treated.
5. Less bacterial leakage – onlays, and inlays are made to fit perfectly onto the affected tooth. Unlike dental fillings, this treatment leaves a very slim chance for leakage to allow penetration of food residue, acids, and bacteria in your tooth.
6. Cosmetic advantage – instead of losing a tooth, you can spare it and have it improved both in appearance and strength.