TL;DR
An inlay repairs a molar or premolar from the inside. A dental laboratory makes it in porcelain to the exact shape of the prepared cavity, and it’s bonded in at a second visit. It suits damage that stays within the cusps, the raised points of the chewing surface. Because the cusps are left untouched, an inlay keeps more natural tooth than a crown. Dr. Prane will tell you when a tooth-colored filling is enough, and when the damage reaches far enough that an onlay or crown is the better fit.
What is a dental inlay?
A dental inlay is a solid piece of porcelain shaped to fill a cavity in the chewing surface of a back tooth. It sits inside the tooth, between the cusps, the way a stone sits in a ring setting. A filling is shaped directly in your mouth; an inlay is made separately to exact measurements and then bonded into place.
That difference matters most on bigger repairs. A large filling has to be built up and hardened inside the tooth in layers. An inlay arrives already finished, polished and shaped, with its contacts against the neighboring teeth set on the laboratory bench.
When is an inlay a better choice than a filling?
An inlay earns its place when a cavity or old filling is too wide for a filling to last well, but the walls around it are still thick and strong. Typical candidates include:
For small and moderate cavities, a tooth-colored composite filling is quicker, done in one visit and usually the sensible choice. We don’t suggest an inlay for a cavity a filling can handle.
- A large silver filling that has started to fail at its edges
- Decay between two back teeth that has spread across the top
- A worn or cracked older filling in a molar that does heavy chewing
- A tooth where a tight, well-shaped contact with its neighbor keeps trapping food
How is a porcelain inlay placed?
Placing an inlay takes two appointments. At the first, we numb the tooth, remove the decay or old filling, and shape the opening with smooth walls so the porcelain can slide in. Then we take an impression, choose a shade, and seal the tooth with a temporary filling.
A dental laboratory makes the inlay from that impression. At the second visit we remove the temporary, try the inlay in and check its fit and contacts. It’s then set with a resin cement that grips both the porcelain and the tooth, and we adjust the bite and polish the surface until it feels smooth to your tongue.
Between the two visits, the temporary filling keeps the tooth sealed and comfortable. It’s softer than the final porcelain, so chew carefully on that side, skip sticky foods, and let us know if a piece breaks away or the tooth turns sensitive.
Inlay, onlay or crown: how do we choose?
We choose by how much of the tooth is damaged and where. If the damage stays inside the cusps, an inlay is enough. If one or more cusps are cracked or undermined, a porcelain onlay covers and rebuilds them. If the tooth is weak all the way around, a full crown protects it best.
The guiding idea at Stone Falls Dental Care is to remove as little healthy tooth as the repair allows. Enamel that’s left in place doesn’t need replacing later. Dr. Carleigh Prane looks at the tooth, the X-rays and how you bite before recommending one over another, and she shows you on the intraoral camera what she’s seeing.
How long does a porcelain inlay last?
A bonded porcelain inlay commonly lasts many years, often longer than a large filling in the same spot. Porcelain resists staining and wears at a rate close to natural enamel. Because it’s made outside the mouth, its edges can be finished very precisely, which helps keep the seal tight.
Its weak points are the margins and the bite. Decay can still start where porcelain meets tooth, so flossing there each day matters, and heavy grinding can chip it. We check your inlays at every cleaning.