CEREC inlays and onlays provide tooth restoration for patients in the Melbourne area

The team at Smile in Style is committed to providing healthy, conservative, and beautiful solutions for dental problems. Most people are familiar with fillings and crowns. These types of restorations are great for minor or major tooth damage, but what about everything in between? We also offer lesser known inlays and onlays as a way of conserving tooth structure.

Dr. Terry Rose, Smile In Style

Crowns vs fillings

Resin fillings are direct restorations, meaning the material is applied directly to the tooth then shaped and hardened in your mouth. They preserve optimal tooth structure because the restoration is shaped to fit the tooth. However, because the material is not as strong as porcelain, they don’t strengthen a weak or badly damaged tooth.

Crowns are indirect restorations, meaning they are created and shaped before going in the mouth. The advantage of crowns is that they cover all of the exposed tooth surfaces, providing full coverage and optimal protection. However, the size of the tooth must be reduced enough to allow room for porcelain on all sides. If the damage only affects a portion of the tooth, some healthy tooth structure has to be removed.

For a small cavity, we can repair it with a biocompatible resin filling material. If a tooth is broken off or severely decayed, we can restore it with a beautiful customised dental crown. For restorations that require two or more surfaces of the tooth to be repaired we would recommend a customised inlay or onlay.

Inlays and onlays, the happy medium

Inlays and onlays are similar to crowns in that they are indirect restorations. Like crowns, they are created here in our office and they are made from high-strength porcelain. They are similar to fillings in that they are shaped to fit the tooth, avoiding the need to remove healthy tooth material.

The process begins with carefully removing the diseased or damaged part of the tooth, and then creating a digital impression using CEREC technology. The restoration is created using our in-office milling machine and it is coloured to match your tooth perfectly. It provides the strength your tooth needs and looks perfectly natural. If the restoration covers all or part of the cusp (tip) of the tooth it is called an onlay. If the cusp is not involved, it is called an inlay.

We offer a wide variety of treatment options, allowing us to provide you with the most effective and conservative solution for any degree of tooth damage. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact us at 03 8400 4104 (Moonee Ponds) or 03 8001 6021 (Sunbury). We have two conveniently located offices, serving residents throughout the Melbourne area.

 

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Smile In Style Dental office near Moonee Ponds and Sunbury

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Throughout our site, you will find valuable information about our services that will help you get to know us better. It is our mission to create beautiful white healthy smiles using the latest technologies. Our experienced Dentists and staff aim for lifelong relationships with our patients, providing relevant dental education and continual care throughout life. Here, you can learn more about the various dental conditions that may develop and the ways in which we treat them.
Some of the services you can expect to find at Smile in Style include: Our goal is to work together with you to achieve your healthiest, most attractive smile, whilst ensuring your comfort and satisfaction.

Safe Amalgam Removal Protocol

  • Chlorella drink prior is given prior to treatment and a mouth rinse post-treatment. Chlorella can help bind and prevent mercury absorption.
  • Physical protective barriers - Masks, protective coverings, eyewear, in-mouth non-latex dental dams, and other steps are taken to prevent physical contact with mercury for the patient and staff.
  • Oral evacuation - Generous amounts of water are used to continuously rinse particulate matter from the mouth while suctioning it away. Combined with protective dental dams, this prevents patients from swallowing dental amalgam particles during treatment. Additionally, the rinsing helps lower the temperature of the filling, reducing the amount of mercury vapour released.
  • External air - A continuous supply of non-contaminated air or oxygen is delivered via a mask or similar apparatus, preventing inhalation of mercury vapour or particles.
  • "Chunk it out" method - Rather than using a drill to grind the filling down, it is carefully removed in the largest possible pieces, minimising friction, vaporisation.
  • High Volume Evacuation Suction is used by the dental assistant to remove amalgam particles in the mouth.
  • High Volume Air suction and Air Purifiers are used in the clinical room that is able to remove mercury vapour from the room.
  • Amalgam separator use - This device collects mercury-contaminated waste before it can enter the sewage system, allowing us to dispose of it safely.