Fixing Damaged Teeth with Inlays and Onlays at Clove Dental

When your tooth is damaged or decayed, you might think fillings or crowns are your only choices. However, there’s a better middle-ground option.

Inlays and onlays are strong, long-lasting repairs. Additionally, they repair the damage while preserving a larger portion of your natural tooth. To fix your smile, Clove Dental provides accurate, cozy, and lifelike inlays and onlays.

In this blog, let’s explore what they are and why they could fit your dental needs.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are known as indirect restorations. That means they are made outside your mouth. Whereas, it is usually in a dental lab and then placed on the tooth.

• Inlays fit into the grooves of your tooth, just like a filling.
• Onlays, on the other hand, cover one or more cusps of the tooth. They are ideal when the damage is more extensive.

Henceforth, both options are stronger and more precise than standard fillings.

When Do You Need Inlays or Onlays?

You might be a good candidate for an inlay or onlay if your tooth has moderate damage that doesn’t quite call for a full crown. Your dentist at Clove Dental may recommend this option when:

• A previous filling has worn down, cracked, or come loose.
• You’re looking for a stronger, longer-lasting option than a standard composite filling.
• You want to keep as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

They’re often used on back teeth like molars, which take the most pressure when you chew.

Benefits of onlays and inlays

Inlays and onlays provide special benefits above conventional crowns or fillings.

•  They don't need to be reshaped as much as crowns do.  But doing so keeps more of your good teeth in place.
• Thanks to materials like porcelain, ceramic, or gold, inlays and onlays can last 10 to 30 years with good care.
• Tooth-colored options match your natural teeth. They are great for patients who want strong and attractive results.
• They fit better than other fillings since they are built to order.  Additionally, a better match reduces the likelihood of degradation in the future.
• Moreover, they uniformly distribute biting pressure and provide a good seal for the tooth.  This lessens sensitivity and guards against fractures in the future.

What Happens During the Procedure?

Here’s exactly what to expect:

Step 1: We look at your tooth. If needed, we’ll take an X-ray. Then we clean out the damaged part and take a mold or scan so the lab can make your inlay or onlay.

Step 2: We put in a temporary filling to keep the tooth safe while the lab works on the final piece.

Step 3: When it’s ready, you come back. We check the fit, bond it to your tooth, and smooth it out so it feels normal.

Insurance Coverage for Inlays and Onlays

Most insurance plans help with the cost of inlays or onlays if you need them for a damaged tooth. We’ll call your provider and check before we do anything so you’re not surprised.

If you have insurance, we’ll call and find out what they’ll pay for before we do any work. If you don’t have coverage, or if the plan doesn’t pay for everything, we’ll sit down with you and figure out a way to make the cost manageable. We’ll tell you the price up front and take care of the paperwork, so you don’t have to deal with it.

Why Choose Clove Dental?

Thousands of patients in the United States trust Clove Dental. This is why our patients choose us:

• Dentists with real, hands-on experience in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
• Modern tools and clear digital images that make treatment easier.
• Offices you can get to easily in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Sherman Oaks.

Book Your Appointment Today

Don’t wait until the pain gets worse. Inlays and onlays can help you save your tooth and your smile. Call Clove Dental today to schedule a consultation. We’ll take a look and help you get your confidence back, one tooth at a time.