Dental inlays and onlays are conservative restorative treatments used to repair teeth with moderate decay or damage. At High Street Dental, we provide custom-crafted inlays and onlays to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible while restoring strength and function.
Inlays fit within the grooves of a tooth, repairing damage that does not extend to the cusps. Onlays, sometimes called partial crowns, extend over one or more cusps to restore larger areas of damage. Both options are ideal when a filling is too small to provide adequate support, but a full crown is not necessary.
Compared to traditional fillings, inlays and onlays are more durable and resistant to wear. They are bonded directly to the tooth, strengthening its structure and helping prevent future fractures. This makes them a long-lasting solution for restoring back teeth that endure heavy chewing pressure.
The procedure typically requires two appointments. During the first visit, we remove decay and prepare the tooth before taking impressions. A temporary restoration may be placed while your custom inlay or onlay is fabricated. At the second visit, the restoration is bonded securely in place.
Because inlays and onlays preserve more natural tooth structure than crowns, they are considered a minimally invasive option. Patients who want to maintain as much of their original tooth as possible often prefer this treatment.
If you have a damaged or decayed tooth and want to explore conservative treatment options, contact High Street Dental in Hingham at (781) 749-9231 to schedule an evaluation.