Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays (also known as partial crowns) are a way to get indirect restoration done on your teeth. These tooth pieces in general are made of pressed porcelain or ceramics depending on your requirement. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that porcelain has become more popular choice of material for inlays and onlays. Inlays and onlays are hard, durable and esthetic procedures. Whether an inlay or onlay is needed depends on the location and size of the cavity. Inlays are put between the cusps (and sit within a tooth, the biting surface) while onlays are larger and cover the cusps. A dentist will examine the extent of the damage and then make a decision based on this assessment.
When tooth decay is not significant enough to need a full-coverage crown, inlays and onlays are a great method of tooth restoration. The added advantage is that using an inlay and onlay instead of a crown allows you to retain more of your tooth, which provides great long term benefits. It is a great solution but it all depends on the amount of damage. In case of heavy damages, inlay and onlay will not work.
Treatment Time
Inlays and onlay application procedures can last from one day up to four. If you require only one or two inlays and onlays, the procedure can be completed within a single sitting. If you require multiple inlays and onlays, the treatment period would extend to two or three extra days. However, your dentist may recommend up to four visits to monitor the products after application.
When are Inlays or Onlays Necessary?
There are a few different instances in which a dentist may prescribe an inlay or onlay for you.
- When a tooth is chipped or broken, or when a cavity is too large to be filled with a traditional filling (i.e. After root canal treatment), a filling will not be of any use. To fix such an issue, the dentist needs to cover the tooth to prevent it from being damaged further. In this case, an inlay or onlay can improve the appearance of the damaged tooth.
- If the tooth decay is minor, then a filling is the most obvious solution. However, if the decay is significant and quite a bit of damage has been done, the tooth requires further intervention. Here, an inlay or onlay can work to effectively cover it up.
Why Choose Inlays and Onlays over Fillings
Unlike dental fillings, inlays and onlays are made of pure porcelain or ceramic. Therefore, this type of restorative treatment lasts longer. They blend in with the natural color of your teeth, so it doesn’t look like you have an inlay or an onlay. Inlays and onlays also perfectly fit over the damaged enamel, so they don’t come off easily unlike fillings. Inlays and onlays effectively protect damaged parts of teeth by stalling infection and further harm.
Advantages of Inlays & Onlays
- Repairs and strengthens the damaged tooth
- Preserves the natural tooth as much as possible
- Reduces risk of future tooth loss
- Tooth coloured inlays and onlays provide a more natural looking smile
- Replaces older metal fillings
- Metal free so the tooth doesn’t contract or expand with temperature change
- Prolongs the life of the tooth
- Made from more durable materials than fillings, protects the tooth against forces and lasts longer up to 30 years
- As their surface is polished, remains of food do not stick on them. Hence, they are hygienic
With inlays and onlays, there is a much less chance that the original tooth will become more damaged or decayed and sensitivity against hot and cold is not in question.
The Inlay and Onlay Procedure
In most instances, you will find that inlay and onlay procedures are carried out in two separate visits. This is because the dentist will need to take an impression of your damaged tooth and then send it to a lab. The lab will then construct an inlay or an onlay that is a perfect match to this. We have their own lab on-site so you will be able to complete all these steps of the procedure in a short period of time.
Stage One
The dentist will inject a local anaesthetic into the gums near the damaged tooth and will then use a drill to remove the damaged portions of your teeth. The dentist may also need to file down the tooth to a certain extent. The dentist does not cut the tooth as in crowns and they prevent structure loss of the tooth. After that, the dentist will make an impression of this tooth and send it to the lab. Then, temporary inlay or onlay will be placed until you can come in for the permanent replacement.
Stage Two
The dentist will remove the temporary filling and will then check to make sure that the inlay or onlay fits perfectly on your teeth. The dentist will also try to identify if you will have any issues once the inlay or outlay has been placed. If the fit is a match, an adhesive will be used to fit the inlay or onlay onto your existing tooth. The dentist will then polish the inlay or onlay as well as the tooth to improve the overall appearance.
The result of an inlay or onlay is that unnecessary pressure is not applied to the walls of your tooth (as is the case with a dental filling). Your tooth is therefore preserved for a longer period of time.
Each of these visits may take an hour or a little bit longer, depending on how simple or complex your particular case may be. You may find that the initial appointment may take a little longer since the mould may take a longer time to process.
What to Expect After the Procedure
Once the procedure has been completed, you may continue to feel some numbness around the treated area. This should subside within a few hours. Once the anaesthesia wears off, you may discover that your gum is a little tender. Your dentist may or may not prescribe medication, depending on the severity of the discomfort. Any soreness, though, should subside rather quickly. Another thing that you may notice is that the area is more sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks. This, too, should go away before too long. Nevertheless, it may take you some time to get used to the feeling of the inlay or the onlay being in your mouth.
Possible Side Effects
For the most part, inlays and onlays are considered a rather minor procedure. Due to this, the risk of anything going wrong is incredibly low. Nevertheless, you should be aware of some of the issues that may take place once the procedure has been completed:
- Severe pain in gums or teeth
- Bleeding
- Difficulty with biting or chewing
- Fever
If any of these issues should present themselves, you should call your dentist immediately. It is possible that you are having an adverse reaction to the procedure. Or, it could simply be that the inlay or onlay wasn’t positioned properly. Regardless, it is important to speak with your dentist as quickly as possible to resolve the problem.
The Potential Complications of a Dental Inlay or Onlay
Even if you don’t experience any side effects of the procedure, you need to be aware that other issues may manifest. Once again, these are incredibly rare but it something that you will need to know about.
If you do have any allergies, you should mention this to your dentist beforehand. Nonetheless, it may be possible for you to experience an allergic reaction to the material that has been used for to create your inlay or outlay. If this should happen, the dentist will need to replace the material with something different.
If there is any injury or trauma to either your mouth or your gums, there is a chance that the inlay or outlay could be lost. The consequence of this is that the tooth and nerve endings will be exposed. As a result of that the food or bacteria could collect in this space and lead to an infection. If this condition is in question, your dentist will inform you and take care of it.
Quality
Our clinic have their own ceramic studios equipped with the latest technology to design perfect inlays and onlays. Having a on-site studio saves you time and money. They custom design inlays and onlays with the help of CAD-CAM computer software to ensure perfect fit accuracy and style. You can benefit from a perfect fit with the inlays and onlays. Clinics can create products that custom fit the unique shape of your teeth. Inlays and onlays are produced using the best dental material available in the world. Products used are made from the branded material, such as CEREC and E-Max. The material is of the highest quality as you would find elsewhere in Europe. Only authentic material and not cheap substitutes are offered for the best result.
How to Care for Your Inlay or Outlay
It is important to remember that an inlay or outlay needs to be cared for just like any other tooth. So, if you don’t follow proper oral hygiene, your tooth is at risk of further decay or damage. Your dentist may inform you of certain food or lifestyle restrictions that you will need to follow for a short period of time. To ensure that your inlay or outlay lasts for as long as possible, it is best to follow these guidelines properly.
Inlays and Onlays Costs
Since inlays and onlays are made in our own laboratories, our patients are not burdened with costs associated with outside laboratories. You can have the procedure done at a relatively low cost due to this. And also, rest of operational costs are kept much lower compared to other parts of Europe.
As a summary, the list prices of ceramic, ceramic-zirconium, Cerec and E-max inlays/onlays are between £ 170 – £ 190 thereabouts. Dentalara clinic provides inlays and onlays made from the best material available without inflating costs.
This is all that you need to know regarding inlays and onlays. You should now be able to go in for the procedure and not have any concerns at all.
Would you like to know more about obtaining inlays and Onlays in Turkey? Contact us today with your queries.