Are you looking for tooth fillings that can replace old metal amalgams with beautiful tooth-like material? Do you want fillings that strengthen and preserve your teeth? Do you want the longest-lasting fillings available? If that’s the case, then you want dental inlays and onlays. These fillings are made of advanced ceramics that are very strong and very attractive.

If you want to learn more about this cosmetic dentistry option for repairing your teeth in Butler, please call (724) 282-4436 today for an appointment with cosmetic dentist Dr. Bob at the Advanced Dentistry of Butler.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are two types of ceramic fillings. They are used to repair teeth that are damaged by decay, trauma, or even old restorations. They can be used in any situation where a damaged tooth needs to be repaired, but doesn’t yet need a full dental crown.

So what’s the difference between them? Inlays fit entirely within the valley of your tooth. Onlays are used to repair not just damage inside the valley, but may also replace one or more of the high parts of your teeth, called the cusps.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Why should you choose inlays and onlays over other types of tooth-colored fillings? These ceramic fillings offer many benefits:

  • Most natural appearance
  • Stain resistant
  • Highly durable for high-stress situations
  • Reduce sensitivity
  • Strengthen teeth
  • Preserve more natural tooth structure

Inlays and onlays offer the most cosmetic filling option. Composite tooth-colored fillings can be precisely color matched to your teeth, and when they’re polished they have the same sort of shine as tooth enamel. But they lose their polish quickly, which makes them look dull. And composite fillings can stain, but won’t whiten, which means that they may not match your teeth for long. Ceramic inlays and onlays naturally have the same luster as tooth enamel, so they always look like your natural teeth, and their exterior glaze repels stains, so they can stay attractive for years.

The durability of dental inlays and onlays is very good, even under strong bite forces. Many clinical trials show they have a very low failure rate and a high likelihood of surviving for many years.

Teeth with fillings can be sensitive. With metal fillings, it’s likely the conduction of heat through the filling or the thermal expansion and contraction of the metal that causes the problem. With composite fillings, the problem is pressure on the filling. But ceramic fillings stop all these causes of sensitivity, so your teeth shouldn’t experience sensitivity from temperature or pressure with these fillings.

Inlays and onlays actually strengthen your teeth. Your teeth will never be as strong as they were before damage, but these fillings restore some of what’s been lost.

These fillings also preserve more of your natural tooth structure than you’d keep if you were to get dental crowns. And the more of your natural teeth that you preserve, the longer your teeth are likely to last.

Are You Looking for the Most Attractive Fillings?

Once damage to your teeth has occurred, we can’t undo the damage. But we can make sure that your smile isn’t marred as a result. Ceramic inlays and onlays help your smile stay beautiful, despite decay. They can even be used to replace unattractive old fillings.

To learn more about inlays and onlays, please call (724) 282-4436 today for an appointment with Dr. Bob at Advanced Dentistry of Butler.