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Inlays and onlays are a category of dental restorations that are somewhat of a mixture between a traditional filling and a crown. The difference between an inlay and an onlay, is that the onlay actually covers a portion of (or the entire) biting surface of the tooth. These restorations are useful because they usually do not require as much tooth to be drilled away as traditional crowns do, allowing us to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible. Inlays/onlays are also useful because they are usually made from stronger materials (porcelain or gold) than the traditional filling. This allows for a longer lasting restoration while conserving tooth structure.
Inlays and onlays are an excellent way to restore teeth with small to moderate decay. The process of preparing the tooth for an inlay/onlay is very similar to that of a traditional filling. However, a separate step is taken to make an extremely accurate impression of your tooth. This impression allows the dental laboratory to make an extremely strong restoration that will be cemented to your tooth. These restorations are long lasting and durable due to fact that they are custom made to fit your tooth by a certified dental technician.
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