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Inlays and Onlays in Virginia

Small Restoration, Big Impact

Your smile is one of your most valuable assets, allowing you to express joy, confidence, and individuality with the world around you. However, when damaged or decayed teeth detract from your smile’s radiance, it can seriously affect your self-esteem and overall well-being. 

If you live in or around the Virginia Bay area, and struggle with cracked, chipped, or cavity-ridden teeth, know that the compassionate dentists at The Foleck Center have your back. Just one call can start you on the journey toward a rejuvenated smile and the renewed positivity that comes with it. 

What are Dental Inlays?

A dental inlay is a solid piece of composite material or porcelain used to fill a decayed or damaged area within the grooves of a tooth. Inlays are considered an ideal solution for treating cavities or cracks that are too large for a standard filling but not extensive enough to require a full dental crown.

The inlay is fabricated in a dental laboratory to fit the prepared area of your tooth precisely. During the procedure at The Foleck Center in the Virginia Bay area, your dentist will remove any decayed or damaged tooth structure and shape the area to accommodate the inlay restoration. Impressions are taken from your tooth and used to create a model from which your custom inlay is crafted. When complete, the inlay is cemented, restoring the tooth’s function and appearance.

Ceramic materials offer benefits such as color matching and wear resistance, and advancements in manufacturing technology like CAD-CAM have improved the creation of these restorations.

inlays and onlays

“As a first time patient I was pleased with how welcoming and helpful everyone was. They were polite, professional, and respectful. Great decision to come here.”

Tameka Harris-Pender

inlays and onlays

Dental Inlays Candidacy

You may be a candidate for a dental inlay if you have a cavity, crack, or areas of tooth decay that extend below the cusps (top edges) of your tooth but are not extensive enough to require a full dental crown. Only teeth that can withstand the bonding process required for inlay placement are eligible. 

Further tooth preparation may be necessary to ensure a proper fit for the inlay, especially in cases of extensive tooth decay. Your dentist at The Foleck Center will examine your tooth during an initial consultation to determine if an inlay is the right choice for you.

What are Dental Onlays?

Similar to inlays, dental onlays are fabricated from tooth-colored materials like composite resin or porcelain, and can also be made from composite and ceramic inlays. Composite resins offer aesthetic benefits as they can be color-matched to natural teeth. 

Onlays are more extensive restorations that cover one or more cusps of the affected tooth. They are often called “partial crowns” as they encompass a larger area than inlays while preserving more healthy tooth structure than a full crown would require. Onlays cover the tooth surface above the gum line, providing a durable and aesthetic restoration.

The procedure for placing an onlay is comparable to inlays. After shaping the damaged tooth region, your dentist takes impressions to make a customized onlay. The restoration is cemented onto the tooth once completed, sealing any cracks or areas of decay while restoring proper tooth anatomy and chewing function.

Dental Onlays Candidacy

You may need a dental onlay from The Foleck Center if you have significant damage, more extensive tooth decay, or cracks affecting one or more of your tooth’s cusps. Because onlays are more invasive than inlays, there must be enough healthy tooth structure to support and retain the restoration. 

The success of an onlay depends on having sufficient remaining tooth structure to support the restoration. Onlays are often recommended as an alternative to full dental crowns when possible, as they allow your dentist to conserve more of your natural tooth.

inlays and onlays

Frequently Asked Questions

Stronger Than Fillings, More Conservative Than Crowns

Don’t let cracked, damaged, or decayed teeth hold you back from the confident, radiant smile you deserve any longer. Whether you live here in Hampton, Norfolk, or Virginia Beach, the dedicated team at The Foleck Center has the skill and compassion to restore your smile’s health and beauty. 

One call can start you on the path to revitalizing your teeth with durable, natural-looking inlays, onlays, and other state-of-the-art restorations. Contact us to learn more!

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