by Aliyeus J

Created on: February 13, 2011

Having teeth intact and fashion-ready for the perfect smile is important to all of us. But often times, teeth are injured due to trauma, or damaged by means of poor oral hygiene. Given any traumatic force, teeth could be knocked out, partially knocked out, chipped or cracked. And with continued poor oral hygiene, gum disease will likely occur, leaving bacteria to infest the gums, and damage the teeth in a variety of ways. When gums are embedded with bacteria, teeth may become decayed, and lead to eventual loss altogether. Gum-lines may recede, leaving the root surfaces of certain teeth exposed, and sizable gaps may occur between the teeth, as well. When problems such as these occur, dental reconstruction or restoration may be a welcome procedure. This is where an individual may opt to have an inlay, onlay, or crown placed, all in an attempt to regain the shining glory of that perfect smile.

In dentistry, the terms inlay, onlay, and crown, all fall under the category of being a type of dental restoration. More specifically, inlays and onlays are considered to be a type of filling, whereas crowns are considered to be a cap. The three are each, individually, produced as a method of restoring the original shape, appearance, and function to a decayed or damaged tooth.

Inlays and Onlays

There is very little difference between an inlay and onlay procedure. Both may be carried out over two visits to a dental facility, where during consultation, a dentist will survey the extent of  damage to a tooth, determining rather and inlay or onlay is suitable. Teeth with more extensive damage will require an onlay, while a lesser damaged tooth will be suitable to an inlay. At this time, a decision will also need to be made as to the choice of material to be used for an inlay or onlay filling. The choice of gold, porcelain, or tooth colored composite resin will be presented as an option. Gold has been the popular choice because of its long track record, and less expensive costs. But many people prefer the porcelain or composite resin as the natural coloring is more aesthetically pleasing.

The dentists will begin the actual procedure by numbing the targeted area with local anesthetic. The decay or damage to a tooth will be removed by use of a drill, leaving some sort of a hollowed-out tooth. An impression of the tooth will then be made, and sent off to a lab, where inlay or onlay material can be cast to form a perfect fit for the drilled tooth. While the material is being cast

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