Patient Guide for Inlays & Onlays

Q: What is the difference between an inlay and an onlay?

The difference is simply how much of the tooth they cover. An inlay fits within the cusps (the bumps) on the chewing surface of the tooth, much like a filling. An onlay is larger and is designed to cover one or more of those cusps to provide more strength and protection to a weaker tooth.

Q: Why can't I just get a large white filling instead?

That’s an excellent question about material science. While modern white filling material (composite) is excellent for smaller restorations, it is not strong enough to reliably restore very large areas in back teeth. It can shrink slightly as it hardens, and it wears down faster under heavy chewing forces. A lab-fabricated ceramic inlay or onlay is much stronger, more durable, and provides a better long-term seal to protect the tooth from fracturing.

Q: How long will my inlay or onlay last?

With good oral hygiene and by protecting them from extreme forces (like grinding), your ceramic inlay or onlay can last for many years, often 15-20 years or even longer. They are one of the most durable and long-lasting conservative restorations in dentistry.

Care for Your New Restoration

The Adjustment Period

It is normal for the treated tooth to be sensitive to cold and pressure for a few days after your initial appointment and after your final restoration is cemented.

What to Expect:

Numbness: The local anesthetic will wear off after a few hours. Please be careful not to bite your cheek or tongue while you are numb.
Post-Op Soreness: The gum tissue around the tooth may be tender from the procedure. This will resolve in a few days.

Temporary Restoration Care

You will have a temporary inlay or onlay in place while your final, custom-made restoration is being fabricated. This temporary is functional, but it is made of a much weaker material and is held on with weak cement. It requires special care.

Do NOT eat anything hard, sticky, or chewy on the temporary restoration. It can easily break or be pulled off.
Do NOT floss “up” on the temporary. You can floss down between the teeth, but then you must pull the floss out to the side. Popping the floss back up through the contact will pull the temporary off.
If your temporary comes off or breaks: This is not an emergency, but you must call our office. The underlying tooth is exposed and vulnerable. It is essential to have the temporary re-cemented to protect the tooth and prevent it from shifting, which could stop your final restoration from fitting.

Bite Adjustment Information

We will do our best to make your bite feel perfect when we cement your final inlay or onlay. However, it’s common to need a minor adjustment.

If, after the numbness wears off, you feel that your bite is “high” or that you are hitting the new restoration first when you chew, please contact our office. A simple, quick adjustment is all that is needed to make it perfectly comfortable.

Permanent Prosthetic / Denture Care

Your new inlay or onlay is a high-strength, precision-milled ceramic restoration designed to restore your tooth’s strength and function while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure.

Our Conservative Philosophy

Think of tooth restorations as a spectrum:

A filling is used for smaller areas of decay.
A full crown is used for severely damaged teeth, requiring the entire tooth to be covered.
An inlay or onlay is the perfect solution for a tooth that is too damaged for a simple filling, but not damaged enough to require a full crown. It allows us to replace only the damaged portion of the tooth, bonding a strong ceramic piece into place and preserving all of the healthy, untouched enamel. This is the essence of modern, conservative dentistry.

Long-Term Care

Treat it Like a Natural Tooth: You can brush and floss your new restoration normally. Excellent daily hygiene is the key to preventing new cavities from forming around the edges of the inlay or onlay.
Avoid Abrasive Toothpastes: Do not use whitening toothpastes. They are abrasive and can dull the glaze and polish of your porcelain restoration over time.
Protect Your Investment: If you clench or grind your teeth, a protective night guard is essential to prevent the porcelain from chipping or fracturing under extreme forces.