Inlays and Onlays

For patients who don’t need a full dental crown, our team at Dentistry at Millennium Park provides ceramic inlays and onlays as an excellent solution. 

Inlays and onlays are the ideal dental treatment for preserving your natural teeth structure, treating significant decay in teeth and saving as much of your existing tooth as possible. They are sometimes called partial crowns for this reason.

When are Ceramic Inlays and Onlays Used?

Dental inlays and onlays are a necessary dental treatment when your tooth decay is too extensive for a standard dental filling, but not severe enough for a full tooth implant or dental crown.

Instead of the usual cavity-filling procedure of drilling into the infected tooth, removing the decayed components and filling it, inlays and onlays cover a wider surface space both inside and outside the tooth—while providing a long-term solution to further decay.

What is the Difference Between an Inlay and Onlay?

Inlays and onlays accomplish similar oral health goals, but differ in how much space they take up on and within a tooth. 

An inlay is used when the damage within a tooth is too big for a cavity filling. Our team will create a custom-made filling to match the exact shape and size of the decayed area. We use our cutting-edge technology and partnership with oral health labs during this process.

Dental onlays also fill a decayed area, but they cover part of the tooth’s chewing surface, too. 

Both restore damaged teeth and can be made with porcelain or a composite resin to match the color of your teeth.

What Happens During the Inlay and Onlay Process?

We start the process with a consultation appointment. Our team at Dentistry at Millennium Park closely evaluates the state of your tooth damage and decay to determine if an inlay, onlay or a more extensive treatment like a tooth extraction or crown is needed.

If we move forward, from here, we build a treatment plan and create the inlay or onlay to match your mouth. This includes working with a dental lab to build a filling that fits your mouth perfectly.

We fit you with a temporary filling to protect your tooth, then once your inlay or onlay is ready, we securely attach it.

Looking for Inlays and Onlays in Chicago?

At Dentistry at Millennium Park, our expert team specializes in cosmetic dentistry solutions that maintain your healthy mouth and show off your beautiful smile. Call our office at (312) 750-9000 to discuss inlays, onlays and other cosmetic dentistry services we offer to brighten and enhance your teeth.