Inlays and Onlays: Custom Restorations for a Healthy Smile

Sometimes a decayed tooth is too damaged for a dental filling to fix, but not broken down enough to warrant a crown. In these cases, inlays and onlays may be the best fit. These custom restorations fit on top of or in between the cusps of a damaged tooth. Dr. Victor R. Siegel offers inlays and onlays at our Rockville, MD, practice as an intermediate restorative option. With over 30 years of experience, he can help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile for years to come.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays offer a wide range of health and aesthetic benefits for patients at our Rockville dental office. For example, these restorations:

• Are conservative: Compared to dental crowns, inlays and onlays are less invasive. Where crown placement requires significant removal of your existing tooth, an inlay or onlay only requires minimal enamel reduction.
• Can alleviate discomfort: When a tooth develops decay, it can lead to tenderness and sensitivity. Inlays and onlays repair and protect the tooth, eliminating pain.
• Offer beautiful results: Inlays and onlays are crafted from medical-grade ceramic, which reflects light in the same way that natural enamel does. As a result, your restoration will blend in with your natural smile.

Exploring Candidacy

To properly support these restorations, patients must have sufficient healthy tooth structure remaining. If the damage is more extensive, Dr. Siegel may recommend a dental crown.

Any patient considering a dental restoration must be fully committed to practicing proper oral hygiene. This includes routine brushing and flossing as well as regular dental visits. This will make sure that the results last as long as possible.

What to Expect during the Procedure

Fabricating and placing an inlay or onlay is usually a straightforward procedure. Your treatment will be broken down into several distinct steps:

• Anesthesia: Dr. Siegel will first numb the affected tooth and surrounding gum tissue with local anesthesia. For most patients, this is enough to remain comfortable throughout the appointment. However, we also offer oral conscious sedation for those with dental anxiety.
• Preparing the tooth: Next, any decay or damaged tissue is eliminated in order to prevent any infection from spreading further. The tooth is then thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and dried.
• Dental impressions: Once preparations are complete, we can take impressions of the tooth. These will serve as the basis of your custom restoration, which we can create with our on-site CEREC machine.
• Placement of restoration: After the inlay or onlay has been created, we can securely bond it to the tooth using high-quality dental cement.

Traditionally, inlays and onlays require at least two visits to the dental office: one to prepare the tooth and take impressions and a second to place the restoration. At our practice, qualifying patients can receive same-day inlays and onlays with our advanced CEREC® technology. This method allows Dr. Siegel to craft your custom restoration chairside while you wait.

Repair Your Smile with Inlays or Onlays

To learn more about inlays, onlays, or any of the other services we offer at our practice, schedule a consultation with Dr. Siegel. We are proud to accept CareCredit® financing, which helps patients afford out-of-pocket costs with interest-free monthly payments. Contact us online or by calling (301) 963-4330.