Composite resin fillings are great for repairing small and medium-sized areas of decay but they may not quite be strong or hard wearing enough for larger cavities affecting the back teeth and for chewing food. If you do have a large cavity in a back tooth, we will suggest repairing it with a porcelain inlay or onlay. The porcelain used is very strong and is precision made to exactly fit the cavity.
The Difference between an Inlay and an Onlay
Inlays are slightly smaller than onlays and are fabricated to fill cavities that only affect the central part of the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Onlays are a little larger as they can repair not only the central part of the chewing surface, but also one or more of the cusps which are the raised points on edges nearest to your cheeks and your tongue.
To make an inlay or onlay, our dentist in Dee Why will first prepare the tooth, removing all the decay and carefully shaping the cavity. Next, a detailed impression is taken and sent to our dental laboratory so your new restoration will precisely fit the cavity. Once the restoration is ready, you can return to our dental practice for fitting, at which stage it will be permanently bonded in place and should be virtually invisible.
For more information, please call us on (02) 9971 8992 or visit the practice at Suite 1, 5 Dee Why Parade, Dee Why NSW 2099.
