An inlay is similar to a filling, but it lies within the cusps (bumps) on the chewing surface of your tooth. An onlay is larger than an inlay. It covers one or more cusps.
Inlays or onlays can be made of gold, composite resin (plastic) or ceramics. They can last for decades. How long they last depends on:
- The material used
- The teeth involved
- The forces of chewing
- How well the patient maintains them with good oral hygiene and regular visits to a dentist
The type your dentist will use depends on how much of the tooth is left. It also depends on how obvious the inlay or onlay will be to other people.
There is also new technology which allows the dentist to have a ceramic inlay or onlay made in the office and cemented on at the same visit.
At your second visit, your dentist will take out the temporary filling and clean the tooth. He or she will cement the inlay or onlay to the tooth. Then, it will be polished. Your dentist may have to shape it slightly to adjust the way your teeth come together.
