Inlays & Onlays in Norwood
Also Offering Dental Services for the Greater Norwood area including Westwood, Walpole, Canton, and Dedham MA
You have multiple options to restore decayed or damaged teeth, including fillings and crowns. If your tooth is too decayed or damaged for a filling, but does not require a crown, inlays and onlays are a good compromise. For the right candidates, inlays and onlays restore the tooth’s form, function and appearance without removing too much natural structure. Preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible is important to the longevity of your tooth.
Inlays and onlays are available at Pediatric and Family Dentistry of Norwood. Upon consultation, we will evaluate your affected tooth and determine whether your circumstances warrant an inlay or onlay.
What Do Inlays and Onlays Fix?
Inlays and onlays help strengthen decayed and damaged teeth and protect them from further damage. They are larger than fillings but not as encompassing as crowns. They are used on the back teeth — the pre-molars and the molars — which have a larger chewing surface.
An inlay fits within the middle of the chewing surface of the tooth, and an onlay covers one or more of the points or “cusps” on the tooth surface. The restorations are made from tooth-colored materials like porcelain and composite resin to blend in seamlessly with your smile.
Inlay or Onlay Placement Process
If an inlay or onlay is the most suitable solution for your case, the next step is to prepare the tooth for the restoration. The affected area of your mouth will be completely numbed so you do not feel any pain or discomfort.
We will carefully remove decayed or damaged tooth structure, and take an impression of the tooth to send to the dental laboratory that constructs your inlay or onlay. Since inlays and onlays take approximately two weeks to make, we will place a temporary restoration on the prepared tooth.
When your custom inlay or onlay is ready, the temporary restoration will be removed and we will bond the permanent one over the tooth. If you are happy with the way the inlay or onlay looks and feels, it will be cemented to the tooth and polished to match your natural tooth enamel.
How to Care for Your Inlays or Onlays
To extend the life of your inlay and onlay, you should brush and floss your teeth daily and schedule dental exams every six months to a year. During your appointments, our team will evaluate your inlay or onlay for signs of damage or premature wear. Inlays and onlays usually last for several years before requiring repair or replacement.
Learn More About Inlays and Onlays
For more information about treating damaged or decayed teeth with inlays or onlays, please request a consultation at Pediatric and Family Dentistry of Norwood. We look forward to reviewing your treatment options with you.
