Dr. Travis Lee at Ocean Breeze Dental Care has over 20-years experience in restoring patient’s teeth with Dental Inlays or Onlays when there’s more extensive damage or cavity for dental fillings but not enough for dental crowns. Information on dental Inlays and Onlays are summarized below to help you understand how they differ from dental fillings and crowns. Please contact the knowledgeable & compassionate dental professionals serving the Los Angeles, CA 90025 community if you are experiencing toothache, pain chewing, chipped or broken teeth, tooth decay or teeth injury to determine the best treatment for restoring your oral health.
Dental Inlay Explained
Dental Inlays restore teeth with extensive damage or cavities that are centered in your teeth vs the outer edges or cusps of the teeth. When such damage or cavity have not progressed deeper layers inside the teeth to require a crown, Inlays are placed into the grooves of the affected teeth to restore its function and strength. As Dental Inlays are pre-molded filling, Dr. Lee will take an impression of the affected teeth’s top crevice area after treating and disinfecting it so that a custom mold can be created in Los Angeles, CA 90025. Similar to dental fillings, dental Inlays can be made with a variety of materials. Porcelain or composite resin material is the most popular choice for dental Inlays as it can match the patient’s tooth color and provide an invisible restoration that is durable.
Dental Onlays Explained
Dental Onlays are larger than a filling but smaller than a crown. Sharing some similarities with dental Inlays, dental Onlays differ in the amount of tooth it covers. Dental Onlays are pre-molded filling that fit over the tooth’s entire biting surface and over the cusps of the tooth. Unlike a crown, dental Onlays do not cover the entire tooth and therefore is a less extreme option to preserve part of the natural tooth. The knowledgeable & compassionate dental professionals at Ocean Breeze Dental Care will conduct a thorough examination to determine whether dental Onlays is the best option to restore your oral health. In the cases where the outer edges or cusps of your tooth is damaged or the tooth structure is too weak for fillings but not so extensively inside the tooth to require a crown, dental Onlays may be recommended. As with dental Inlays, the most popular material used for dental Onlays is composite resin as it provides an invisible restoration that is durable.
Dental Inlays and Dental Onlays Process Explained
Inlays and Onlays will require more than one visit. On the first visit, Dr. Lee will prepare the affected tooth by removing all signs of damage or decay on and surrounding the affected tooth and taking molds and impressions that will then be sent to a lab. He will place a temporary restoration for protection during the waiting period. The second visit involves cleaning the area and placing the final restoration while making sure the color and size is a perfect match.
Please contact our General & Cosmetic Dental Practice serving the community around Santa Monica, CA 90025 to maintain healthy teeth, beautiful smile & fresh breath with breeze.