Inlays & Onlays
Alternatives to Dental Implant Professional Lab
A crown replaces the entire external part of a tooth. An implants replaces the entire tooth, with a metal post substituting for tooth’s interior and root. But it is also possible to just replace part of the tooth. This is a good option if only part of the tooth is worn, misshaped or damaged.
Inlays and onlays are used to replace sections of the molars or premolars. The chewing surfaces of these molar teeth is always indented, because this aids chewing. Often this indented area is hard to clean and prone to decay. Else, is may simply be unsuitably rough. So this section of the molar/premolar can be replaces with inlay or onlays.
Inlays replace the top centre part of the molars. Onlays replace both this top centre of the tooth and one or more of the outer raised cusps. If the entire top of the molar is replaced the replacements section is called an overlay.
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For many generations the inlays and onlays were made of gold. They were essentially a gold filling. More recent generations had inlays and onlays made from porcelain, which looked fairly natural. Today these inlays and onlays are made from ceramic materials, which are predesigned to suit the individuals tooth.
Modern inlays and onlays are superior to fillings because they help strengthen the structure of the tooth. A filling will only work if the tooth already has fairly good structural integrity. With molars and premolars this structural integrity is important because chewing puts considerable pressure on the back teeth.
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Inlays and onlays benefit form computer aided design (CAD) and computer manufacture (CAM). A mould of the individual’s mouth or computer 3D model is used to design and create the right shape inlay/onlay, which is then fitted into place by the dentist. The exacting standards of computer modelling and designing means the piece or replacement tooth will be a very exact fit. This greatly reduces any problems with gaps between the natural tooth and the replacement section. Any gaps would leave the tooth open to decay.
Inlays & Onlays