If the person has cavities that are too large to be treated with normal fillings and/or too small to be treated with veneers, inlay & onlay dental fillings are preferred in these cases. These fillings, which generally consist of all-ceramic material, are prepared in the laboratory and applied to the required tooth of the patient by dentists.

Inlay & onlay fillings are custom made and are not applied right away during the appointment, like other filling types. Since they are custom prepared for the patient, they create a very aesthetic appearance in terms of color and shape. There is a fundamental difference between these fillings, which differ in the area to which they will be applied and the condition of the caries.

What are Inlays and Onlays?

While inlay fillings are applied to the parts that come more to the inner side of the patient’s tooth, onlay fillings are applied to the upper part of the tooth. Both are fillings custom produced for patients.

How is Inlay and Onlay Application Made?

As in any treatment for the tooth, first of all, the area to be treated is anesthetized and then the rotten part is cleaned. The measurement of the teeth and surrounding teeth required for treatment is taken. With the temporary filling method, the area is closed until the actual filling is prepared. The measurements are sent to the laboratory and the first session is completed in this way. In the next session, the temporary filling is removed. Custom-made inlay & onlay fillings are rehearsed and then polished and glued to the person’s teeth. In general, it is seen that it is an application that takes 1 or 2 sessions. Our clinic has the technology to produce these fillings and attach them to the patient on the same day.

Why Inlay and Onlay are Preferred?

Such fillings provide many advantages for people. First of all, the aesthetic appearance they provide is one of the main reasons for their preference. They last longer than traditional fillings. Thanks to the application, the remaining healthy tissue of the tooth can be preserved. These fillings, which have a low risk of creating new caries, do not cause edge leaks. Since it is prepared by taking individual measurements, there is no need for extra cutting on the teeth. They form very strong tooth structures for chewing functions. Since they have the color of the patient’s teeth, they give the appearance of natural teeth.

They do not cause allergic reactions after application. No wear and tear due to time. The application time is very short. This is an important factor that increases the rate of preference. It is ideal for health, thanks to its structure, bacteria are difficult to adhere to. It is custom made and glued in a special way. It is not possible to experience any problems in terms of edge leakage. For all these reasons, inlay & onlay fillings are highly preferred fillings.

How Long Do Inlay and Onlay Fillers Last?

It is a condition that may vary depending on the patients themselves and the results of the doctor’s control. First of all, the material from which the filling is made is very effective in this regard. Accordingly, the duration of use also changes. The dental condition of the patient is also one of the factors affecting the life of the application. Although the time differs depending on the condition of the tooth, it can generally be used for a lifetime if taken care of well. Hygiene is very important for this treatment as it is for any treatment. Long-term use is possible if the patient performs oral care in a healthy and clean way. Likewise, doctor control is also important. Depending on the doctor’s control, with intervention when necessary, patients can achieve longer-term use.

Do I Apply Special Care If I Have Inlay or Onlay?

The care of the patient after this procedure is very important. Regular maintenance after treatment creates long-lasting results for the procedure. First of all, it can be said that it is necessary to continue the same brushing routine after the inlay & onlay process. Even during the day, the teeth should be cleaned with the help of dental floss. Apart from this, patients should be subject to regular doctor control. Regular care and doctor control are important points to be considered.

What are the Points to Consider in Daily Life?

The only point to be considered in daily life is hygiene. As long as a good and regular oral care is done, the result of the procedure will be healthy. For this, teeth should be brushed regularly and dental floss should be used during the day. Regular doctor visits are also very important. Doctors may want to polish the fillings from time to time as a result of these visits. You should not try to break hard things such as hazelnut shells with your teeth. Just like the teeth can be broken, onlays can also break in such cases.

When Are Inlay and Onlay Restorations Preferred?

Inlay & onlay treatment method is recommended if patients experience intense loss of substance due to broken or decayed teeth. This application is preferred in cases where it is difficult to fill and there is no tissue loss so that the coating does not need to be preferred.

What are the Benefits of Inlay and Onlay Restorations?

These restorations have many benefits so their frequency is very high. Thanks to the inlay & onlay treatment, which has an aesthetic structure, people have a natural tooth appearance. In addition, since these fillings are custom made for the patient, there is no need to make any changes in other teeth. They offer practical solutions in terms of dental aesthetics. Since there is no allergic reaction after the application, they provide a healthy post-treatment process for patients.

Since it is a porcelain content, it is not possible to see coloration over time. They do not cause hot-cold sensitivity. Most importantly, it will not rot again. For all these reasons, this application provides significant benefits to people in terms of treatment and post-treatment.

Are Inlay and Onlay Restorations More Durable Than Normal Fillings?

The most important advantage for inlay & onlay fillings, which are quite durable, is their robust structure. Thanks to these robust structures, they provide very long-term use. Compared to classical fillings, it is possible to say that they are not exposed to any abrasion. Even after years, they remain the same size and there can be no damage in this regard. These fillings, which are not applied directly to the patient and are custom produced in accordance with the measurements of the patients in the laboratory environment, give healthier results than other fillings.

What is the Difference Between Inlay Restoration and Onlay Restoration?

In general, although often used together, these treatments actually serve different purposes. They make a difference in terms of use depending on the area to be applied and the size of the caries. If it is considered as a result of treatment, it can be said that both provide treatment by closing the area that has lost substance due to reasons such as bruises or fractures. However, the treatment methods are just as different. If the patient is experiencing less substance loss, inlay fillings are preferred. Such fillings are mostly placed in the internal structure of the tooth. It is a form of application that does not include the chewing surface parts of the tooth structure.

It is also possible to use the classical filling. However, when considering the advantages of inlay filling, people prefer it. Onlay fillings are preferred for larger damaged tooth structures. If the patient is experiencing intense substance loss, onlay filling treatment should be followed. They are used in the external structure of the tooth. Therefore, onlay fillings are very similar to crown veneer treatment. This method is used in the treatment of one or more tooth hills. They are fillings that have very large structures in size. In short, when inlay & onlay treatment methods are considered as a result of treatment, although they serve the same purpose, their use cases are quite different from each other.