Inlays and onlays are custom-made restorations used to replace tooth damage, offering a stronger and longer-lasting solution than traditional fillings. If decay has already set in and caused damage to the tooth, inlays and onlays will stop this from developing into something more serious.
Our dentists in Sheffield work hard to maintain and keep your teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible. The longer you can keep your natural teeth, the better it is for your overall oral health. Inlays and onlays are a method of preserving teeth which have been attacked by decay. While crowns are an option for damaged teeth, they often require your dentist to file down or remove a little of your existing tooth in order for the sleeve to fit nicely over the top and stay in line with your existing teeth. Onlays and inlays fit onto your teeth in a way that maintains all or most of your current tooth structure.
Larger cavities are best treated with inlays and onlays, as fillings simply won’t manage the damage. Inlays are very similar to fillings in that they close up a gap. An inlay sits inside your tooth, while an onlay is fitted to the outside of it and is usually used to build up any area of tooth damage or if your tooth has fractured. It is often the back teeth that require this kind of attention, as the surfaces of the ‘chewing’ teeth are particularly vulnerable to developing cavities.
You may also have an amalgam (silver) filling that you would like replaced with a more natural coloured onlay or inlay. Our Portman Dental & Implant Clinic dentists in Sheffield can remove old fillings, clean out any existing decay, and replace unsightly dark patches with a more natural looking treatment.
Like fillings, inlays and onlays are usually made from porcelain or composite resin to blend naturally with the rest of your teeth and provide lasting strength and reinforcement to your otherwise damaged tooth. It is possible to get gold and amalgam inlays and onlays, however composite resin and porcelain choices make for a solution that is hardly noticeable.
Treatments will take two appointments at our practice in Sheffield as the carefully moulded part to replace your tooth needs to be crafted in a dental laboratory. On your first visit, your Sheffield dentist will take a mould of the tooth, which will be used to create the inlay or onlay. Your finished inlay or onlay will then be carefully fitted during your second appointment.
Do you need to book a check up? Early detection of decay is the best way to treat it. Contact Portman Dental & Implant Clinic in Sheffield on 0114 272 2726 today to make an appointment.
At Portman Dental & Implant Clinic our highly skilled, friendly team shares the same single vision: we put you first. Together, we are dedicated to providing you with a first class experience, from the comfort of our reception to the very latest innovations in dental technology. We make sure you have the best possible care from the second you walk through the door.
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