When teeth are decayed or fractured, they need to be repaired using a restoration that is durable and natural-looking. Inlays and onlays in Kelowna can effectively repair damaged teeth while maintaining and protecting as much tooth structure as possible. If you are considering treatment, visiting a dentist near you can help explore your options and determine whether inlays or onlays will be best for you and your smile.
What Are Dental Inlays and Onlays?
Inlays and onlays are restorations that are made to fit the specific shape of your tooth. Unlike traditional fillings, inlays and onlays provide fitted restorations that appear very similar to your natural teeth. This is why many patients prefer to have inlays and onlays as their restoration choice.
Dental inlays and onlays are considered indirect restorations, made from combinations of porcelain, composite resin, or gold.
- Inlays fit inside the grooves of your tooth; they do not seal over the cusps.
- Onlays extend over one or more cusps, which provides third coverage for damaged teeth.
These restorations will be made in a dental lab and then bonded to your tooth. Inlays and onlays provide strength and durability to a tooth’s surface, which can be considered a conservative approach before having a full crown.
How Natural Do They Look?
One of the big reasons why inlays and onlays near you are preferred is because they can take on the natural colour of a tooth while mimicking the shape. Today’s materials—porcelain and composite resins in particular—can be matched to the specific colour of adjacent teeth, and once bonded to the tooth, they are so similar to natural enamel that they will go unnoticed.
- Colour matched: For a seamless fit.
- Customized shape: To replicate the contour of the natural tooth.
- Smooth finish: Polished for light reflection like natural enamel.
Because of these characteristics, many patients report that no one can tell the difference between their natural and restored teeth. Their restorative treatment will seamlessly blend in, allowing them to smile, talk, and eat with full confidence.
Advantages of Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays have several benefits, beyond providing a natural appearance:
- Durable: Stronger than traditional fillings, and durable to wear.
- Tooth structure preservation: Much less invasive than a full coverage crown.
- Restorable: With care, inlays and onlays could last years, potentially decades.
- Better oral health outcome: Considerably less likely to have decay or fracture.
Having tooth restoration with inlays only restores the structure and allows you to keep your natural smile. It’s one of the reasons why these treatments are so popular among adults seeking discreet, effective dental care.
Caring for Inlays and Onlays
Our dentist in Kelowna would always remind our patients, dental inlays and onlays require the same home care as your natural teeth:
- Brush at least twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss properly around the restored tooth to limit plaque accumulation.
- Avoid chewing anything extremely hard to help prevent damage to your restoration.
- Go to regular dental appointments to check that the restoration is still intact.
When home care and professional care are in place, your inlays or onlays will remain functional while looking as natural as possible for many years.
Restore Your Smile Naturally
Whether you are looking for a dental restoration that is durable or somewhat cosmetic, the dental inlay and onlay are always dependable choices. They allow for dental function and protection of the tooth structure, and they integrate into a smile naturally.
At Mission Park Dental, we will provide our expertise to discuss and consider the best evaluation and treatment for the strongest and most natural outcome possible for the restoration of your tooth or teeth. Come see us today to talk about your options for restoring your tooth or teeth.