Inlays and onlays

Imagine your tooth is like a tiled floor. If a small piece of one tile is damaged, you don’t need to replace the whole floor—you just fix that section.

An inlay is like replacing the centre of a damaged tile. It fits snugly inside the tooth, like a puzzle piece filling in the damaged area between the walls of the tooth.

An onlay is like replacing a bigger part of the tooth that includes part of the edges or corners—it not only fills the middle but also covers one or more cusps (the raised points on the tooth).

Both are custom-made and stronger than regular fillings.

Inlays and onlays allow us to preserve a significant portion of your natural tooth structure. They will restore your tooth in a highly conservative way and enhance its aesthetics.

The materials we use will be matched to your tooth shade, so they will blend in with your tooth shade.

The materials we use to create inlays and onlays are proven to endure for up to 10 years. However, factors that can affect the lifespan of your inlay or onlay include:

• Whether or not you grind your teeth.
• How often do you see the dentist and hygienist.
• Your diet.

If you need support in changing certain habits, our dentists can provide guidance and support to help you achieve this.