A damaged tooth can often cause pain and discomfort, preventing you from feeling and looking your best. If you want to fix a damaged tooth and enhance your smile without compromising your natural appearance, dental inlays and onlays might be the perfect solution for you. These dental treatments can provide an ideal middle ground between traditional fillings and dental crowns. Not only are inlays and onlays designed to look like part of your normal tooth, but they also provide support and long-lasting results to keep your smile looking natural and healthy.
At Seattle Dental Studio, our dentist focuses on restoring your smile with care tailored to your goals. Our advanced technology allows us to create precise, natural-looking restorations like inlays and onlays, ensuring your comfort and satisfaction. Conveniently located in downtown Seattle, we combine innovation and a patient-first approach to provide a seamless dental experience. Whether you’re addressing damage or enhancing your smile, we’re here to help you achieve lasting results.
When a cavity or crack in the tooth is too big for a filling but too small for a crown, dentists might recommend a dental inlay or onlay to save more of your natural tooth. Compared to fillings and crowns, dental inlays and onlays are customized to fit into the natural tooth like a puzzle piece. The size and location of the cavity will determine whether an inlay or onlay should be used. Budget constraints and aesthetic goals also play a role in determining the right restorative procedure for your tooth. A Seattle, WA, dentist can be valuable in answering any questions you have to help decide if a dental inlay or onlay is the right solution for your dental needs.
A dental inlay is comparable to a filling, but the material and manufacturing processes are very different. While a filling is used for smaller cracks and involves the cavity in the tooth being filled with an amalgam (metal compound that contains mercury and is usually silver in color) or a resin (tooth-colored compound made of resin, silica, or glass), an inlay is a single solid piece that is created in a lab and placed to fit inside of the hole created by the cavity.
Most of our teeth have cusps or rounded protrusions that help us grind food when we eat. The type of tooth, i.e., canine, premolar, and molar, will determine the number of cusps on the tooth. When your cavity occurs in the space between the cusps of the tooth, a dental inlay will likely be suggested.
When a large cavity occurs on the cusp of a tooth, a dental onlay will likely be recommended by your Seattle, WA, dentist. While dental inlays are used specifically for the space between the cusps, dental onlays are used when an entire cusp needs to be restored. An onlay is different from a crown as it only covers the cusp that needs to be repaired, compared to a crown covering the entire tooth. This makes an onlay a cheaper option than a crown while still preserving the natural tooth structure and function.
Your Seattle, WA, dentist will discuss the available options with you, considering factors like the extent of the repair, the location of the filling, and the cost, before recommending the most suitable restoration option to fit your dental needs.
Besides the customizability of dental inlays and onlays, there are some added benefits to getting them over a filling or crown in Seattle, WA. These benefits might include:
It is important to note that dental inlays typically require more than one visit as the tooth needs to be scanned, and then the inlay or onlay needs to be created in a dental lab before being placed. However, the benefits can far outweigh the added time it takes to have one placed. If you have a cavity or damaged tooth, you should speak with a Seattle, WA, dentist to discuss your options and if dental inlay or onlay is the right choice for you.
At Seattle Dental Studio, we take pride in providing customized care that prioritizes your comfort and long-term dental health. Our advanced technology allows us to craft precise, durable, and natural-looking inlays and onlays that seamlessly restore your smile. Whether addressing a damaged tooth or enhancing your appearance, our team works closely with you to develop a tailored treatment plan that meets your unique needs.
We are conveniently located in downtown Seattle, offering a modern, patient-first approach designed to make your visits as efficient and stress-free as possible. Trust us to help you keep a healthy, beautiful smile with innovative solutions and compassionate care. Call us today at (206) 467-8302 or use our contact form to schedule your appointment.
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