Imagine that your dentist or dental hygienist has discovered tooth decay or other damage that needs to be repaired in your mouth. After the injury is repaired, you may be wondering what kind of coating your tooth will get. Although we frequently refer to tooth repair as "fillings," there are actually a few different sorts of dental restoration treatments. They consist of dental fillings, dental inlays and onlays.

You might have enquiries about your alternatives, such as: What is a dental inlay? What distinguishes it from a dental onlay? And which one will my dentist advise for my particular dental damage?

Let's discuss the benefits of a dental inlay for you as well as how it varies from other types of tooth repair.

An inlay for your teeth is a pre-molded filling that is inserted into the grooves of the tooth. It is most frequently utilised as a restoration for cavities (also known as dental caries) that are located in the core of your tooth rather than on the periphery or "cusps" of your tooth. Most of the time, these cavities have not developed into more serious dental decay.

A dental inlay is applied to your teeth in a reasonably simple and painless procedure. Your dentist will use a local anaesthetic to numb the injured area of your mouth before drilling into the compromised tooth to remove the decay. Your dentist will make an impression of the top crevice of your tooth after it has been cleaned out and will send it to a lab. Dental inlays are often made of porcelain or composite resin, which matches the colour of your tooth. They offer an almost undetectable dental restoration and are typically more long-lasting than conventional fillings.

Now that you are aware of what a dental inlay is, it probably seems quite alluring! Getting this kind of restorative care may be the best option if you have slight tooth decay, a fracture, or other dental injury. Yet occasionally, alternative dental repair techniques are required.

A dental onlay, for instance, is used to restore a tooth with more severe damage that has progressed to the cusp or biting surface. An onlay covers the higher points around the edges of your tooth, whereas an inlay typically fills a cavity in the grooves of your tooth. A comparable process is needed to obtain a dental onlay as an inlay. A local anaesthetic will be used by your dental health provider to numb the affected area. After drilling your tooth to remove any decayed or damaged tooth material, they will fill the cavity or damaged area with a temporary dental onlay. Your dentist will next take an impression and send it to a lab, just like with an inlay. Your permanent onlay will come in about a week.

What about a filling, then? Most likely, you've heard of this dental operation or maybe had one already. There are various materials that may be used to create fillings, which are utilised to cover a small region of your tooth where a dental practitioner filled a cavity. They range from the more common amalgam, which is a combination of metals, to a glass and acrylic resin composite. Traditional fillings, however, could be a drawback. Metal fillings can reduce tooth strength by up to 50%, according to a literature review that was published in the Journal of Dental Health, Oral Diseases & Treatment. In contrast, inlays and onlays composed of porcelain and composite materials have a ten to thirty year lifespan and can boost tooth strength by up to 75%!

Fillings have the advantages of only requiring one dental visit, being less expensive, and being suitable for minor cavities. Inlays and outlays, however, are for more extensive damaged regions. Consider inlays and outlays as a compromise between crowns and fillings.

Damage can happen even if you maintain a strict oral hygiene routine and regularly visit your dentist for exams. If your biting surface meets the following characteristics, your dentist may suggest an inlay:

Teeth with cracks, fractures, or decay that don't impact the cusps.

A sizable dental filling may be necessary to repair the damage, which could weaken the remaining structure.

The degree of injury precludes the removal of enough tooth structure to support the mounting of a crown.

Whatever route you and your dentist take, maintaining good oral health requires prevention. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing (also known as interdental cleaning), and using mouthwash to rinse away any leftover bacteria are all recommended. Your best line of defence against dental problems is this programme, along with regular dental exams. You should be able to reduce your risk of developing cavities, which will reduce the likelihood that you will ever require these procedures.