What are tooth inlays?

A dental inlay is a type of indirect dental restoration typically used to repair minor to moderate tooth decay or damage in back teeth, such as molars and premolars. Unlike onlays and crowns, an inlay is designed to fit into the tooth's cusp, like a filling.

Inlays are designed, crafted, and placed by your dentist and typically require multiple visits. Here's a step-by-step process of getting a tooth inlay:

1. Dental Consultation:

- You visit your dentist with the tooth problem.

- The dentist examines your teeth and confirms if an inlay is the best treatment option for your case.

2. Preparing the Tooth:

- The dentist administers local anesthesia to numb the affected area.

- The decayed or damaged portion of the tooth is carefully removed.

- The dentist shapes and prepares the tooth to create a space for the inlay.

3. Taking Impressions:

- Dental impressions are taken to create an accurate mold of the prepared tooth and surrounding structures.

- The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory to fabricate the inlay.

4. Temporary Restoration:

- While the inlay is being made in the lab, your dentist might place a temporary restoration to protect the prepared tooth.

5. Inlay Fabrication:

- At the lab, skilled technicians create the inlay using the specifications provided by your dentist.

- Inlays are typically made of materials like porcelain, gold, or composite resin.

6. Fitting and Bonding:

- Once the inlay is ready, you'll return for another visit.

- The dentist removes the temporary restoration.

- The inlay is carefully fitted onto your prepared tooth to ensure it fits precisely.

- The inlay is permanently bonded to the tooth using dental cement.

7. Treatment Completion:

- After checking the fit and bite, your dentist will polish the inlay to ensure a comfortable and natural-looking result.

- You'll receive care instructions and your dentist might schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor the inlay's performance.

Tooth inlays are durable, long-lasting, and can restore the function, strength, and aesthetics of the tooth. They provide an alternative to crowns when the damage or decay is less extensive and don't require the removal of as much tooth structure as crowns do.