What are Inlay and Onlay Fillings? | What are their advantages?

Inlays and onlays are alternative treatment methods that are applied when the damage to the tooth cannot be treated with a simple filling. While standard fillings are applied for the cavities that are small, inlays and onlays are preferred when the cavity inside the tooth is deeper and larger. After taking the patient's impression, inlays&onlays are produced specifically for the patient in the laboratory. They can adapt perfectly to the tooth structure.

Thanks to inlays and onlays, which are aesthetically no different from normal teeth, tooth loss is prevented and tooth damage is eliminated. Since they are produced in accordance with the patient's mouth and tooth structure, mostly they can't be applied immediately in a single dentist appointment. They need to go through a certain preparation process.

What Are The Differences Between Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays or onlays are preferred according to the damage to the tooth. They are no different from each other in terms of preparation. Inlays and onlays are frequently preferred dental treatment in Turkey.

• Inlays: An inlay is preferred when the damage or decay is confined to the center of the tooth, between the cusps (the raised points on the tooth's biting surface). Caries in the tooth are at a level that can be treated with dental fillings under normal conditions. However, inlays are preferred more often due to their aesthetic appearance and natural harmony with the tooth. They are custom-made to fit more accurately. Their advantages are more than normal filling treatments.
• Onlays: Onlay is preferred when the damage extends beyond the cusps of the tooth. Onlays are used when the cavity is neither small enough to be treated with a conventional filling nor large enough to need a crown. There is no need to reduce the tooth as in crown treatment. However, the cavity cannot be filled after it's cleaned with a normal filling, either. They are larger in size than inlays, and like them, they are custom-made. After the treatment, the patient can bite and chew easily.

What Is The Treatment Process For Inlays and Onlays?

Although inlays and onlays are very similar to crowns in terms of preparation, they are prepared without the need to reduce the size of the tooth. The main purpose here is to repair the damage by preserving the natural structure. Inlays and onlays treatment procedure is as follows;

1. The tooth area where the inlays or onlays will be bonded is numbed with local anesthesia. In this way, the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure.
2. Then, cavities in the tooth are cleaned as in traditional filling treatment.
3. In order to prepare the inlay-only, the impression must be taken and sent to the laboratory.
4. While they are specially prepared in the laboratory, a temporary filling is applied to the tooth so that the patient does not feel discomfort.
5. After the inlays and onlays which are suitable for the patient's tooth color and tooth structure are prepared, they are cemented by using dental adhesive on 2nd appointment. In some cases, the treatment can be completed in a single session.

Inlays and onlays are suitable for the anatomical structure of the tooth and can be used for a long time. Aesthetically, they are no different from normal teeth.

What Are The Advantages Of Inlays and Onlays?

Here are the advantages of inlays and onlays;

• Since inlays and onlays are made of porcelain, they are aesthetically compatible with natural teeth.
• When teeth are brushed and flossed regularly, they do not deform for many years. They are more long-lasting than fillings.
• The possibility of abrasion and discoloration is extremely low.
• It can fill areas that conventional fillings cannot reach. In this way, tooth damage is treated more effectively.
• Healthy tooth tissue is preserved. Only the damaged area is healed.

For proper dental hygiene, don't forget to read: How to use dental floss

Inlay-Onlay Filling Prices:

According to the 2023 Oral and Dental Health Examination and Treatment Fee Schedule, the prices for inlay and onlay fillings are as follows: