A dental inlay is used to fill the kinds of cavities that a filling cannot seal. Dental fillings work fine when a tooth has a small cavity or a mild case of tooth decay, but they have their limits. A tooth that has lost a sizeable chunk of its structure needs a dental restoration that will reinforce it.
So when your dentist tells you that you need a dental inlay, you should have some idea why that is. You should also know what an inlay is and how it works.
It is an indirect dental restoration that is placed inside the tooth. Dental inlays are made in a dental lab based on an impression of a patient’s teeth. They are custom-made to fit into the space left by the removal of decayed or damaged dental tissue.
Unlike a dental onlay, an inlay does not cover the chewing surface or the sides of a tooth. It only seals the tooth and extends no further than the cusp.
When a patient goes to the dentist complaining of a toothache, this is what happens:
The dentist will cover the tooth with a temporary restoration and send the patient home to wait for the inlay. Once the inlay is created, the patient will return to the dentist’s office where the dentist will remove the temporary restoration and place the inlay in the tooth.
Some cavities are too big to be sealed with regular dental fillings. In such a scenario, the dentist will choose to repair the tooth with a restoration that is solid and sturdier. This means the tooth will have reinforcement it needs to keep from caving in.
A dentist will recommend an inlay if their patient’s tooth has a loose or ineffective filling. When a filling stops working the way it is supposed to, it starts to damage the tooth. That is why a dentist will choose a tougher and more durable restoration. In other words, an inlay. A dental inlay will seal the tooth and reinforce it from the inside.
An inlay is only used to repair a tooth whose chewing surface and sides are intact. A tooth that is missing parts of its outer surfaces needs much more than an inlay. If a moderate amount of the tooth is missing, the dentist will restore it with an onlay.
If a large part of the tooth is damaged, the dentist will use a crown instead.
A dentist will tell you if an inlay is the best way to repair that tooth, but only after a dental exam. Go ahead and get a consultation to find out.
Request an appointment in our Forest Hills dentist office here: https://metrosmiles.com.
For patients who have damaged or decaying teeth, dental restorations may be a necessity. Dentists use a variety of restorative procedures to protect and repair the structural integrity of an individual's teeth. Some of the most common restoration procedures may include dentures, crowns, and fillings.No individual should suffer from severe tooth pain or discomfort. Decaying…
Numerous things can interfere with a good smile. Whether it is a missing, cracked, chipped, damaged, or decayed tooth, dental restorations help improve how you look, prevent future dental issues, and improve the function of your teeth and mouth. Depending on the type and severity of the issue, there are various restoration procedures available.Some people…
Dental restorations can improve overall health by decreasing the chances of infection, decay, and issues caused by broken or misaligned teeth. These treatments range from removing teeth, replacing tooth structures that have decayed, and correcting the patient’s overall bite to improving eating and drinking.A restoration may be performed for cosmetic or health-related reasons, but even…
Dental restorations have been used for thousands of years. In fact, a 2012 article published by The New York Times details the discovery of a 6,500-year-old human jawbone. Considered the earliest evidence of dental fillings, it had beeswax in one tooth, which researchers believe was to ease the pain of a crack. These days, restorations…