Inlays & Onlays

Dental inlays and onlays are restorative treatments used when old fillings need to be removed or replaced or as an alternative when it is no longer possible to fit a standard filling because of significant decay or damage to the tooth.

A dental inlay fills the space in between the cusps – or rounded edges – at the centre of the tooth’s surface. A dental onlay works in the same way but covers one or more cusps or the entire biting surface of the tooth.

These conservative dental treatments are minimally invasive – meaning only the decayed area of the tooth is removed. Inlays and onlays fit perfectly into the affected area, meaning decay is less likely to occur once the restoration is completed. Created from special ceramic material, inlays and onlays look and feel just like your natural teeth.

As an alternative to traditional amalgam fillings inlays and onlays are actually healthier as they contain no metal and are more hard-wearing with a more natural look and feel. Compared to composite onlays, CEREC inlays and onlays help restore your tooth closer to its original strength and have superior aesthetics and are much more conservative than traditional crowns.