Inlays/onlays
For several decades, the standard form of treatment to repair a damaged molar was the silver amalgam filling. Although it is believed to be a successful form of treatment, the use of amalgam fillings has come into question in recent years. Health issues notwithstanding, amalgam fillings require the removal of a good deal of natural tooth structure, a step that could ultimately weaken the tooth, and it certainly affects the appearance of the smile.
Today, patients with an eye for aesthetics and health are looking to inlays and onlays as their preferred method of restoration when a tooth has sustained a large amount of damage. Inlays and onlays are essentially tooth-coloured fillings that preserve the beauty of the smile while successfully restoring stability and function. Only slight differences separate the two. Inlays are designed to repair a smaller portion of the tooth, lying within the indented tooth surface. Onlays repair more extensive damage, covering areas that extend onto the cusps, or points, of tooth surface. We are interested in conserving as much tooth structure as possible so we often choose onlays, or shell crowns in preference to full coverage crowns.
Treatment with one of these restorations may seem unappealing to some, due to the fact that, much of the time, two dental visits are necessary to complete treatment; one in which the tooth is prepared, and another in which the completed restoration is placed.
Smile in Style is a dental practice in which our patients benefit from the latest in dental technology. Equipped with the CEREC camera and milling machine, our dentists are able to have your tooth prepared, and your new inlay or onlay in place in a single visit. This is only one advantage to CEREC restorations, though. With this innovative technology, we are able to achieve precise fit, and establish a stronger bond between the restoration and the tooth.
CEREC inlays and onlays are made of a strong ceramic material, which means that no metal is needed in this treatment. Metal restorations have been determined somewhat problematic, expanding and contracting with temperature changes. The tiny movements within a metal filling may lead to tooth fracture, or even cause the filling to fall out. The ceramic material in CEREC restorations expands and contracts at the same rate as natural enamel, keeping the fit nice and snug over years of use.
Your smile is in good hands with us. Contact our office in Sunbury or Moonee Ponds for your appointment.
