Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are good options for patients who may need a filling replaced but don’t want to get a dental crown. While every situation is different, we can help you decide what is the best solution for you. Inlays and onlays will require two appointments, because they are created in a dental lab.

What Are They Exactly?

Cusps are the bumps on the top of a tooth. Inlays fit between the cusps, and onlays fit over one or more of the cusps. They allow patients to retain more natural tooth structures. For teeth that show when you smile, a white restoration is usually chosen. Back teeth, or molars, often experience more pressure, so a metal inlay or onlay may be selected.

What is Treatment Like?

During a patient’s first visit, we will prepare the tooth by removing any decay or previous filling and cleaning the surrounding area. We will then take a dental impression and send it to the lab. Patients wear temporary inlays or onlays until their custom ones arrive from the lab. At the second appointment, we will remove the temporary inlay or onlay and bond your final one into position. We will polish and modify it to ensure proper bite alignment.

Make An Appointment With Us Today

Our inlay and onlay treatments can restore a filling that needs to be replaced. To schedule a consultation with us, call Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS, in Houston, TX, today at 713-796-9600. We also serve patients who live in Bellaire, River Oaks, Southside Place, and all surrounding communities.