Prosthodontic Care
Inlays & Onlays
When a tooth is too damaged for a simple filling but doesn't yet need a full crown, an inlay or onlay offers a precise, conservative, and long-lasting middle ground.
Indirect restorations
Precision restorations that protect your natural tooth
Inlays and onlays sit between a filling and a crown on the spectrum of dental restorations. They are made outside the mouth in a dental lab, fabricated from impressions taken at your appointment, and then bonded permanently into place. At Able Family Dental, we recommend them when a direct filling won't hold up under biting forces but removing enough tooth structure for a full crown would be unnecessarily destructive. The result is a strong, well-fitted restoration that preserves more of what nature gave you.
Conservative by Design
Unlike a full crown, an inlay or onlay requires removing only the damaged portion of the tooth, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
Inlays, Within the Cusps
An inlay fits within the cusps of a back tooth, restoring the chewing surface of a tooth with moderate decay or damage that is too large for a standard filling.
Onlays, Over the Cusps
An onlay extends over one or more cusps of the tooth. It's sometimes called a partial crown and is used when damage is more extensive but a full crown isn't yet necessary.
Durable Materials
Inlays and onlays are crafted from porcelain or composite resin in a dental lab, making them stronger and longer-lasting than a direct filling of the same size.
Precise Fit
Because inlays and onlays are fabricated to exact specifications from impressions of your tooth, they fit accurately and seal the margins tightly against future decay.
Natural-Looking Results
Tooth-coloured porcelain inlays and onlays blend seamlessly with surrounding enamel, making them an aesthetically superior alternative to old metal fillings.
Ready to restore your smile?
Call 403.327.7202 or request an appointment online.