Onlay Restorations
An onlay is a custom-made filling made of composite material, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain.
It’s a great option to have when your tooth needs something more than a filling, but less than a crown.
Onlays can be used to strengthen and protect a tooth with a large filling or deep cavity, as well as to repair a chipped or cracked tooth.
You may also hear an onlay referred to as a partial crown. It’s made by a dental laboratory and cemented onto your tooth permanently by your dentist.
Onlays can be utilized to conservatively repair teeth that have large defective fillings or have been damaged by decay or trauma. Onlays are an ideal alternative to crowns (caps) because less tooth structure is removed in the preparation of onlays.
Although inlays and onlays can be identical, there is a difference between them. Inlays are placed within the cusp while onlays require an abutment tooth to be included in the restoration.
Although onlays are highly durable & can last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile on your face, they are not permanent and sometimes may be required to get replaced, just like other dental treatments.
