Between filling and crown
Inlays and onlays: precision restorations.
When a tooth has too much damage for a filling but doesn’t need a full crown, an inlay or onlay restores it precisely — without removing healthy tooth structure unnecessarily.
An inlay fits inside the cusps (the points) of a tooth — like a filling, but lab-made from porcelain or composite for greater strength and a more precise fit. An onlay covers one or more cusps in addition to the inside of the tooth — somewhere between a large filling and a crown.
Both are made in a dental lab from a digital scan of your tooth, then cemented in at a follow-up visit. Because they’re fabricated outside the mouth, the fit, contour, and bite contacts are more precise than a same-day filling can achieve.
Inlays and onlays are strong — properly placed, they hold up as well as crowns — and they preserve more natural tooth structure than crowns do. They’re a great option for back teeth with large old fillings that have started to break down.
When to come in
Come see us if…
- An old filling has fractured or is leaking.
- A tooth has more damage than a filling can address but you’d like to keep as much natural tooth as possible.
- Your dentist has mentioned an inlay or onlay as an option.
New Patients Welcome
Ready to plan your visit?
Whether it’s been six months or six years since your last appointment, you’re welcome here. Getting started takes just a few minutes — and we’ll meet you where you are.