Dr. Enrico DiVito is a general and cosmetic dentist who specializes in laser dentistry at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in North Scottsdale. A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, Dr. DiVito returned to Arizona and established a private practice in 1980. He founded the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in 2007. In this article, he gives advice on deciding whether an inlay or onlay is a good fix for your dental problem.
Many methods are used to restore the cusp of decayed or fractured teeth, and dental inlays and onlays are two ways that we can treat those problems.
As a general distinction, inlays are used more when we are making minor repairs to a person’s teeth, while onlays are reserved for the times when we are covering a greater area and have more work to be done. Â So, the main determination between an inlay and an onlay has to do with how big or deep a person’s cavities are. Or, in cases where the tooth has broken off, that determination has to do with how much of the actual tooth is missing.
Another way that I describe inlays and onlays to patients is to explain that they are essentially smaller versions of dental crowns. However, these devices are placed on the inside of the teeth rather than on the outside. Or, in some other cases, they can also be used to cover the top of the tooth. Traditionally, when we have made an inlay or an onlay for a patient, we usually worked with materials such as gold or porcelain.
Thanks to the new technologies we have here at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry, however, we have actually made huge strides in making the inlay or onlay process easier for patients. By using the same CEREC technology that gives us the ability to make crowns for patients within a matter of hours—as opposed to waiting weeks—we are able to make our patients’ inlays and onlays right here in the office, as well. That means that we can handle a patient’s entire inlay/onlay restoration process with just one appointment, rather than making patients schedule multiple appointments over a period of weeks.
And like I said, with the use of this CEREC technology, we are able to now make our inlays and onlays out of porcelain rather than gold. Not only does the porcelain material minimize the chances of the inlay’s decay over time, but it also can be better suited for matching the teeth that are currently inside a patient’s mouth.
Overall, we are able to use inlays and onlays these days to restore a patient’s teeth in an efficient, cost-effective way. Rather than forcing patients to come in for multiple appointments, we are able to handle the entire process in just a matter of hours, which has a great impact for many of our patients.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
