When a tooth has a cavity that needs to be repaired, our Long Island dentist may be able to place a basic filling. However, sometimes an inlay or onlay works best.
The Difference Between Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays also commonly referred to as three-quarter crowns. Both are custom, lab fabricated fillings made from a gold alloy or strong tooth-colored material. These restorations are recommended when the cavity in your tooth is too large for a simple filling but not large enough to need a full crown. Inlays fit on the inside of the tooth, while onlays cover at least one of the tooth’s cusps.
Inlays and Onlays Preparation Process
Being a cross between a filling and a crown, inlays and onlays pretty much have the same preparation process as a crown.
To begin with, we’ll take an impression of your tooth which will be used toward the end of the procedure. After numbing you to make sure that you don’t feel any discomfort, we’ll proceed by removing the cavity from the tooth and smoothing certain areas as needed.
Once the tooth is prepped, we will take a final impression of the area to send to the dental laboratory. There, the technicians will use it as a reference for making your permanent restoration.
It typically takes a least two weeks to receive a case back from the lab, so in the meantime you’ll wear a temporary filling or crown on your tooth. This interim restoration will help you protect the tooth against any sensitivity or bacteria. The provisional restoration will be cemented to your tooth but removed once the permanent restorations come back from the lab.
The Temporary Phase
While you’re wearing your temporary restoration, you’ll need to be careful not to eat anything sticky or hard that may cause it to break or pull off your tooth. Stay away from granola, tough meats, and nuts. Also be sure to avoid chewing gum or sticky candies that can cause it to come loose.
If you have any issues with your provisional three-quarter crown, then let us know right away. If it pops off, we can recement it for you and if it breaks we can repair it. It’s very important that it stays on your tooth until the permanent restoration is ready.
Bonding Your Permanent Inlay/Onlay Into Place
Once the final restoration has arrived at our Long Island dentist office you’ll return for a second visit. Typically, this appointment only takes a few moments and anesthesia isn’t required. However, if you prefer to be numbed, just let us know and we’ll be glad to do so.
We’ll start by removing the temporary inlay/onlay. It usually just slides right off because the cement that we use to put it on with is fairly mild in strength. Next, we’ll clean and disinfect your tooth. When trying in your permanent restoration, we’ll check the contacts between the teeth with some floss. We don’t want the area to be too tight to where you won’t be able to get floss though, but we don’t want it too loose so that it packs food either. In addition to getting the contacts just right, we’ll check and adjust the bite. You should hit heavy enough on the restoration but not to where it’s more than other teeth. Your bite should be even throughout your mouth.
At this point, our Suffolk County dentist may need an x-ray of the area to check the fit of the restoration and make sure that it will seal the tooth in the necessary areas. If all looks well here, we’ll proceed to cement the inlay/onlay.
There are different kinds of cement 一 some require multiple steps like mixing, applying some solutions to the tooth or restoration beforehand, or shining a special light to set the cement. Whatever specific steps that we take here, just know that we’re using the strongest, longest-lasting cement that is ideal for the particular material your restoration is made from.
Once all the excess cement has been cleaned off, we may check everything once more with a final x-ray.
Getting Inlays and Onlays is Similar to Crown Treatment
If our Long Island cosmetic dentist ever springs the words “inlay” or “onlay” on you during a visit, all you need to know is that it’s similar to a crown. The preparation of the tooth is very similar with the exception that not as much tooth will be removed. The temporary phase is the same as is the cementation appointment.
Advantages of Three-Quarter Crowns
In dentistry, when having to remove decay and repair a tooth we need to take into consideration the strength of the restored tooth. Unfortunately, fillings don’t always cut it when it comes to large areas of tooth decay. Because large white or amalgam fillings that take up more space than the actual tooth could cause your tooth to break apart.
Crowns, however, sometimes require more prep work to a tooth than it physically needs, compromising the integrity of a healthy, natural tooth.
The alternative? Three-quarter crowns are the perfect middle man when faced with such a dilemma. Inlays and onlay allow us to be conservative when restoring your tooth, and confident that the material is durable enough for the long term.
Are Inlays and Onlays Right for You?
If you have a tooth that is partially broken or you had a cusp break off of one of your teeth, then you may be the perfect candidate for an inlay or onlay.
When our dentist recommends a specific treatment, it’s going to be the option that is best for you. However, if you planned for a crown and would like to if a three-quarter crown is a viable alternative, be sure to let us know. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.
The key to performing conservative dentistry is catching problems early. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had a dental checkup, it’s time to visit Sachem Dental Group in Long Island. Our Suffolk County providers are standing by to help you take back control of your oral health. Give us a call today to schedule.