Where considerable amounts of tooth tissue have been lost due to decay or trauma, beyond the normal scope of filling work, inlays or onlays may be considered as suitable treatments.
An inlay sits in a hole in the tooth, rather like a filling. An onlay sits on the tooth and builds up its shape - useful for instance for someone who grinds their teeth. They can be tooth-coloured (porcelain or composite) or gold.
They are especially suitable for the chewing surfaces of back teeth.
The procedure is similar to that for crown work, in that the tooth is prepared, a mould is taken with some impression material and a temporary filling placed for 2 weeks. Once the inlay/onlay has been returned from the laboratory, it is 'glued' into place.
