Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays can be used in the place of a filling. Unlike soft fillings, which are moulded into the shape of the mouth, inlays and onlays are made in a dental laboratory and then glued to the tooth by your dentist.

An inlay sits in a hole in the tooth and an onlay sits on the tooth. They can be made tooth-coloured, gold or composite. Different materials are suitable for different parts of the mouth and parts of the teeth.

You will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area and any old fillings or damaged bits of tooth will be removed.

A mould will be taken of the tooth to be repaired which will guide the dental technician who is making the inlay or onlay.

A temporary filling will protect the tooth being repaired before you return to the surgery to have the inlay or onlay glued into position. Your dentist may make minor adjustments to ensure that the tooth is comfortable to bite on.

Inlays and onlays are very strong, often lasting longer than a "traditional" filling and are useful for back teeth and large repairs for front teeth where it can be difficult to make a white filling look natural.

To ensure the inlay or onlay looks natural, your dentist will be able to match the colour to that of your "natural" teeth.