Do I Need a Filling, Inlay, or Onlay?
If you are looking for a solution to repair a decayed or damaged tooth, you’ve come to the right place. Santa Teresa Dental is pleased to offer a range of restorative dentistry services, including dental fillings, inlays, and onlays. Our cutting-edge restorations are made to look like your natural teeth, leaving you with a seamless smile.
Dental Fillings – An Overview
Almost everyone will develop a cavity at some point in their lives. Early treatment with a dental filling can restore the decayed tooth’s health and function. At Santa Teresa Dental, we offer tooth-colored fillings made of a composite resin material for beautifully natural results.
In their earlier versions, composite resin dental restorations were primarily used to treat tooth decay and cavities in the front teeth because of their aesthetic results. However, significant advances in the material’s composition make it possible for today’s tooth-colored fillings to restore any tooth, even the molars that are exposed to significant chewing pressure and wear.
A tooth-colored dental filling is always our go-to choice for cavity repair. Dental crowns, on the other hand, are used to treat teeth with extensive decay or damage, restoring their form and function. What if your decay or damage is too extensive to repair with a dental filling and not extensive enough to warrant a dental crown? You may be the perfect candidate for an inlay or onlay.
Dental Inlays and Onlays – An Overview
Inlays and onlays can be made of a tooth-colored composite resin material, gold, or porcelain. Composite resin restorations are gentle on the opposing teeth, but the material is prone to discoloration and wear. Gold is strong and durable, but the color often poses a cosmetic concern. Most of our patients prefer porcelain inlays and onlays because of their strength, durability, and how closely they can be color and texture-matched to the surrounding teeth. With proper care, porcelain inlays and onlays can last 30 years or even longer!
Porcelain inlays and onlays, also known as indirect fillings, are created by a dental laboratory from impressions of your smile. They typically take two appointments for placement. Inlays are similar to traditional fillings; except they repair much larger cavities. The material bonds to the chewing surfaces of damaged teeth, fortifying their strength and restoring their form and function.
Onlays, often referred to as partial crowns, are similar to inlays in that they repair teeth with large cavities. However, an onlay covers the damaged chewing surfaces of a tooth along with one or more of its cusps. Onlays require less removal of natural tooth structure than dental crowns, making them a more conservative alternative.
Caring for Fillings, Inlays, and Onlays
Caring for teeth restored with fillings, inlays, or onlays is no different than caring for your natural teeth. Make sure to maintain a meticulous oral hygiene routine, including regular brushing and flossing, to lower the risk of new damage or decay.
It is also essential to visit Santa Teresa Dental for your routine dental exams and cleanings. We will monitor your oral health and address any problems as they develop, preventing the need for complex treatments down the road. We are all about maintaining healthy smiles for life.
Dental Fillings, Inlays, and Onlays Near Me
Visit Santa Teresa Dental in Morgan Hill, CA, to learn more about restoring your smile’s health, function, and aesthetics with a dental filling, inlay, or onlay. Dr. Huang and his outstanding team use cutting-edge technology, techniques, and materials to deliver durable restorations for long-term healthy smiles. We invite you to call 408-782-6568 to schedule your appointment or book one online today!