Inlays and Onlays in Huntington Beach

Did you know Inlays and Onlays can increase your tooth durability by up to 75%? Click the button below to find out how Dental Oasis can help!

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Inlays and Onlays: Options for Orange County Patients Who Don’t Need Crowns.

At the Dental Oasis of Orange County, Dr. Brian Toorani and his team are devoted to helping their patients maintain a healthy oral environment.

As a graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, Dr. Toorani knows how important it is to have strong teeth. Strong and effective teeth allow for better overall health of the patient.

When a tooth breaks, is damaged, or is decayed, dental inlays and onlays may be an effective remedy to restore the tooth to its former functionality.

If your teeth are damaged, you may be wondering why you should opt for an inlay or an onlay over a filling or a crown–take a look at their differences.

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Inlays and Onlays in Huntington Beach, CA

What’s the Difference Between Fillings, Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays?

Lady Smiling After Inlay and Onlay Treatment

Your dentist will opt to restore a tooth with an onlay or inlay only when there’s too much trauma or decay to fix with a filling, but not enough damage to warrant a crown.

Sometimes inlays and onlays are confused with fillings because they are made of similar substances (gold, plastic, porcelain), but again, the nomenclature filling applies to a cosmetic procedure that fixes less serious decay or damage.

There are some advantages of inlays and onlays compared to both fillings and crowns. Traditional fillings can weaken a tooth?s durability by 50%; however, inlays and onlays can increase the durability by as much as 75% to do their strong bonding resins.

And if the damage of your tooth is so borderline that you could get either a crown or an inlay/onlay, you should consider the latter.

Inlays & Onlays Preserve Your Tooth

To be fitted for a crown, your dentist would have to shave a portion of the enamel away. By saving the healthy portion of the tooth, inlays and onlays provide strength and stability for normal chewing.

Plus, even though restorations are made from strong materials, most restorations eventually break down through the years and need a second restoration to remove any new decay or chipped material. If your tooth is already shaved down from a crown, it may not be possible to restore the damage and the rest of the tooth may need to be extracted.

With an onlay or an inlay, you have a better chance of avoiding extraction should a second restoration be required.

So What’s the Difference Between an Inlay and an Onlay?

Inlays are placed in the center area of a tooth or the area between the cusps. Cusps are simply the prominences on your teeth; for instance, your canine teeth have one cusp while molars will have either four or five.

Onlays, on the other hand, are placed on the outside areas of a tooth, mainly on the cusps. Because onlays can replace much of a tooth structure, they are sometimes called ‘partial crowns’.

Which Type of Inlay/Onlay Material Is Best?

There is no material that is best, but they each have pros and cons that will depend on your personal preferences and your dentist’s recommendations. Some common materials include:

Gold

This material has durability and strength and can last for years. Gold inlays and onlays are great because they will not corrode through the years. However, if you do decide to get gold but already have amalgams, keep in mind that you may be at risk for galvanic shock.

This is a phenomenon where two dissimilar metals can pass a current since your saliva acts as an electrolyte. Galvanic shock can cause sensitive teeth and even pain, so it may be worth it to consider other fillings.

Composite

Inlays and onlays have become very popular because they are matched to your teeth’s natural color and practically invisible.

If you’ve already lost a good portion of your tooth, this is a great option, since not as much enamel needs to be removed for fillings.

The downside of composite is that you may experience both a longer procedure time and longer sensitivity or soreness afterward.

Porcelain

Like composite, porcelain is a great material because it can look very similar to your natural teeth. The negative aspects of porcelain are their expense and their likelihood of fracturing. While you may gravitate towards a certain material, don’t forget to assess your doctor’s recommendations and your oral habits.

For example, if you grind your teeth, your dentist might suggest a tougher material that can withstand a lot of stress, such as resin or gold. If the tooth being restored can easily be seen when you smile, he or she might suggest porcelain, which can be made to look like the color of your teeth.

If I Go in for an Inlay or Onlay, What Should I Expect?

After administering a local anesthetic, your dentist will use a drill to remove the damaged part of your tooth. They will then file down the remaining piece of tooth to prepare it for the inlay or onlay. A mold of your tooth will be taken in order to customize the onlay or inlay to the exact needs of your tooth.

The inlay or onlay will then be placed on the tooth. And since Dr. Toorani is trained in CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics), his office in Huntington Beach, CA can use a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system as a special restoration tool for your inlays and onlays. This means that you may only need one appointment for a full restoration!

If you are nervous about getting inlays and onlays, keep in mind that your comfort is very important to the Dental Oasis team. During this procedure, you should’t feel more than slight pressure.

You are in very capable hands with Dr. Toorani. Be sure to let him know about any concerns you have so you can be put at ease before your procedure is done.

Contact the Dental Oasis in Huntington Beach Now

If you have any questions about Inlays or Onlays, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, call (714) 894-7700 or visit the Dental Oasis of Orange County.

You can also request an appointment by filling out the form on this page.

Dental Oasis Of Orange County is located at 7777 Edinger Ave #232, Huntington Beach, CA 92647