Inlays and Onlays
Minimally invasive restorations
Strong, natural-looking smiles that save your oral health with advanced technology and quality materials.
Inlays and Onlays
Minimally invasive restorations
Inlays and Onlays
Dental Paradiso is dedicated to keeping as much of your natural tooth structure as possible, so your oral health can stay strong long into the future. To minimise how much tooth material gets removed, we offer minimally invasive inlays and onlays. These advanced restorations use cutting-edge technology and techniques to treat teeth which have moderate decay or damage. Eliminating the need for extensive drilling or cutting, these high-precision solutions effectively restore your teeth so they look and function just like your natural teeth. Our innovative approach is known as ‘conservative dentistry,’ which means your tooth material is conserved, in a process that maximises your comfort, oral health and aesthetics.
Inlays, onlays and traditional dentistry
Traditional dentistry approaches, such as amalgam fillings, require a lot of tooth material to be removed. Conversely, inlays and onlays take a precise approach that uses digital dentistry tools to create custom restorations that minimise the need to drill and cut the tooth. Each option has unique benefits when repairing teeth that have been damaged by decay, wear or injury. Inlays and onlays, designed from durable, tooth-coloured materials, blend seamlessly with your natural teeth and are preferred for the following reasons:
Strength and durability: Using robust processes and materials, inlays and onlays provide superior strength compared to traditional fillings. They can endure significant biting forces, and are less prone to chipping or breaking, making them suitable for larger areas of decay or damage.
Preservation of tooth structure: By using high resolution data capture to design precise restorations, inlays and onlays are able to restore teeth with minimal removal of healthy tooth structure. This maintains the tooth’s overall integrity and strength, contributing to its long-term health.
Natural appearance: These restorations are custom-made to match the colour and shade of your surrounding teeth, ensuring a seamless and aesthetically pleasing result. They provide a natural look while effectively restoring the function of your damaged teeth.
Inlays versus onlays
Both inlays and onlays are minimally invasive restorative options, but they differ slightly in how they are used. Which is best for you depends on how much damage the restoration needs to restore:
Inlays: Inlays are ideal for smaller areas of damage located within the cusps of the tooth, which are the raised biting surfaces. They fit neatly inside these shapes, much like a puzzle piece, restoring the tooth’s structure and function without covering the cusps.
Onlays: Onlays are used for more extensive damage that affects one or more of the cusps. Unlike inlays, onlays extend over the cusps, providing extra coverage and support. This added support helps to strengthen the tooth and protect it from further damage.
Benefits of minimally invasive restoration
Minimally invasive dentistry offers numerous advantages over traditional methods, including:
Preservation of natural tooth structure: Minimally invasive procedures require less removal of healthy tooth material, which is essential for maintaining the long-term health and strength of your teeth. Preserving more of your natural tooth helps support its overall function and durability.
Reduced discomfort: Because these techniques involve less removal of tooth structure, patients often experience less discomfort during and after the procedure. This approach minimises the trauma to the tooth and surrounding tissues, leading to a more comfortable recovery.
Enhanced longevity: Restorations that use minimally invasive methods can be more durable than traditional fillings. By conserving more of the natural tooth and providing a better fit, these restorations often last longer and require fewer replacements or repairs.
Improved aesthetics: Preserving more of your natural tooth structure allows for restorations that blend seamlessly with your existing teeth. This results in a more natural-looking smile, as the restorations can be precisely matched to the colour and shape of your natural teeth, enhancing both function and appearance.
Who is a candidate for inlays and onlays?
Inlays and onlays are excellent options for patients with:
- Moderate tooth decay that cannot be effectively addressed with a traditional filling.
- Cracked or fractured teeth.
- Worn-down teeth due to bruxism (teeth grinding).
- Teeth with large, old fillings that need replacement.
- Structural damage that compromises tooth strength and integrity.
- Aesthetic concerns, especially for those seeking to improve the appearance of damaged or decayed teeth.
Inlay and onlay process
At Dental Paradiso, our experienced dentists follow a meticulous process which ensures your inlays and onlays are caringly tailored to meet your specific needs. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what you can expect with us:
Consultation: During your first visit, we will have a conversation about your dental concerns and perform a comprehensive examination. This includes taking X-rays to evaluate the extent of decay or damage, and determine whether inlays or onlays are the right treatment option.
Tooth preparation: We will then carefully remove only the tooth’s decayed or damaged portions, preserving as much of the healthy tooth structure as possible. This step is designed to get your tooth ready for the restoration while minimising discomfort and maintaining the tooth’s overall integrity.
Digital impressions: To ensure a precise and comfortable fit for your restoration, we use a high-definition intraoral camera to capture detailed digital scans of your tooth. This technology allows us to create accurate models while avoiding the traditional, less comfortable impression materials.
Smile design: Thanks to our advanced digital dentistry technology, we are able to involve you as an integral player in the smile design process. This is the stage in which we design your bespoke inlays or onlays to match the shape, size and colour of your natural teeth. You will be shown a digital simulation of your expected results, and we will take your specific feedback into account. This collaborative process ensures your restoration fits perfectly, matches your own personal preferences and complements your overall smile.
Custom fabrication: Based on your digital impressions and smile design, your inlays or onlays are custom-created in our in-house dental laboratory. We use premium, biocompatible materials such as composite resin or porcelain to ensure durability and a natural appearance. Our lab utilises advanced techniques, including the CEREC milling system or 3D printing, to create exceptional restorations.
Placement: On the day of your placement appointment (which may be the same day as your preparation or at a follow-up visit), we will carefully bond the inlay or onlay to your tooth. This stage is much more comfortable than getting a filling, and your bite will be adjusted so that it works beautifully and feels good.
Restore your smile with inlays and onlays in Osborne Park
Damaged teeth are a genuine cause for concern. If you are seeking a long-lasting, natural-looking solution, we invite you to contact Dental Paradiso today. We want you to feel comfortable and enjoy great oral health, so we prioritise saving as much of your natural tooth as possible while restoring your smile. Minimally invasive inlays and onlays are two highly effective solutions our experienced dentists can deliver to enhance your well-being. Let us help save your smile so you can enjoy life more!