Nowadays, we’re surprised when a big-screen star, politician, or anyone in the public eye laughs with abandon and we catch a flash of a silver-colored amalgam filling. Have you ever caught yourself not laughing out loud because you, too, have amalgams? Have you ever caught yourself covering your smile?
More and more, it’s so unusual to see silver-colored amalgam because advances in dental technology are making silver-mouth such a vision of the past. And this is not just for all those red-carpet stars and famous people out there, but for all of us “real” people.
So what can you do to brighten your smile? One of the most popular ways is to replace the amalgam when it has become old and worn, compromised, or no longer fulfills its purpose. The natural-looking alternatives to silver-colored fillings not only look great, they also strengthen teeth. Two options that you may not have heard about yet are called “inlays” and “onlays.” They’re both made of tooth-colored material that is virtually invisible to the casual eye. Let’s get to the simple definitions…
Inlays & Onlays – Both an inlay and an onlay are tooth restorations for premolars (the two teeth right behind your canine or eye teeth) and molars (that are in the back of your mouth) that have been damaged by tooth decay.
Each inlay or onlay is one solid piece that is fabricated in the exact shape and size of the cavity that is left once tooth decay is cleaned away. They are used when we need to restore a tooth when there is too much damage to support a direct filling (composite, silver-colored amalgam, etc.) but not enough trauma to require a full porcelain crown.
- Inlay – As above, but it fits into the biting surface between the cusps of the tooth.
- Onlay – As above, but it covers one or more cusps of the tooth.
Bonus… Unlike silver-colored fillings, preparing for inlays and onlays does not require the removal of large amounts of healthy tooth – we only must remove the damaged or decayed part of the tooth.
All inlays and onlays are custom-made for your tooth. To make them, we take an impression of your prepared tooth, which is then sent to a lab. Our skillful dental technologists (who, by the way, are skilled in creating many dental devices and appliances such as crowns, bridges, dentures, implant crowns, ortho appliances, and more) then create your restoration. In the meantime, we place a temporary filling in your tooth to support it until your inlay or onlay is ready to be placed permanently.
5 Reasons Inlays & Onlays Might Be Right For You
- Undetectable as they’re the color of your tooth.
- Strengthen the remaining tooth structure to help prevent further breakage.
- Rivals the strength and beauty of your tooth’s natural properties.
- With proper brushing and flossing, they’ll last up to fifteen years.
- Helps you make a lasting impression!
With the modern dental materials now at your disposal, there’s no need to advertise your dental work! Talk to us, your dentist in Houston, about replacing those silver fillings with the natural strength and sheen of inlays and onlays. Call P+E Dental today at (346) 701-5339. We’ll be very happy to welcome you!