Onlays are used in dentistry when a tooth is too broken to fix but not broken enough to need to be taken out. For a crown to cover a dental problem, the dentist may have to take out more of the healthy tooth than is necessary. Onlays allow the dentist to avoid this. This keeps you from getting too much dental care that isn’t necessary. Onlays are a type of dental work that falls in between fillings and getting a full crown. Visit MK Dental in Cincinnati, OH for the best onlay-related treatment in nearby areas.

With these Onlays, bigger cavities can be fixed without capturing the tooth with a crown. One of these is not the same as the other: Dental inlays and Onlays are used to fix broken teeth, but they fix different tooth parts. A dental inlay tries to fill in the space left by a cavity, while an onlay covers the cusps or the layer that goes across the top of the tooth.

The most important difference is that the inlay goes inside, and it only goes on top. These are also sometimes called “partial crowns.”

Straight Answers to Your Tooth Problems

There are two different kinds of dental restorations: direct and indirect. Direct restorations are made in the dentist’s office during a regular appointment. In contrast, indirect restorations are made in a science lab. As per Colgate Dental Onlays are often called indirect restorations, but they can also be done in the dentist’s office if the dentist knows how to do it.

Indirect Onlays

During the initial appointment for the onlays treatment in Cincinnati OH, our dentist will begin by removing any decay from the tooth and preparing it for the onlays. A mold of the tooth will be taken and sent to the dental lab for further work. While awaiting the completion of the onlay, the dentist will provide a temporary filling to safeguard your tooth. In the subsequent appointment, the onlays will be securely affixed to the tooth.

Straight Onlays

Our dentist will be able to use the same preparation, and a composite resin material will be used to fill the tooth. The filling will be put in an oven to harden, shaped into a mold, and then put on the tooth. There is also a high-tech way to make these Onlays called CEREC, which uses 3D computer imaging right in the dentist’s office. The dentist takes a picture of the tooth and then makes the necessary onlays right there in the office. There’s no need for impressions, fillings, or a second appointment unless you need some touch-up work.

Whether you think you need a filling or a dental onlay, one thing is certain: this is an easier, less invasive option than removing part of a healthy tooth to put a crown on it when a less invasive procedure works just as well.

Visit our cosmetic dentists in Cincinnati, OH for the best onlay treatment in a nearby location.