Inlays and Onlays: Tooth-Colored Repairs for Your Back Teeth

If you've heard that a back tooth needs more than a filling, it's natural to picture a crown and wonder how much of your own tooth will be left. There's often a middle option that keeps more of what you have. Inlays and onlays are custom-made, tooth-colored repairs for back teeth with more damage than a filling can handle, but not enough to need a full crown. At our New Haven dental office, we use them to restore strength while keeping your smile natural, all the way to the back.

A repair sized between a filling and a crown

An inlay or onlay repairs a tooth that has lost too much structure for a filling to hold well, yet still has plenty of healthy tooth worth keeping. A filling is placed and shaped directly in your tooth. An inlay or onlay is custom-made to fit the damaged area precisely and then bonded in, which gives a larger repair more strength.

A crown covers the whole tooth, so an inlay or onlay is the more conservative choice when your tooth qualifies: we remove only what's needed to place it securely, and more of your natural tooth stays yours. The American Dental Association's overview of dental filling options describes inlays and onlays alongside the other ways a dentist can repair a tooth.

Inlay or onlay, depending on your tooth

The difference comes down to how much of the chewing surface needs repair.

• An inlay sits within the grooves of your tooth's chewing surface, between the raised points on top, which dentists call cusps.
• An onlay reaches over one or more of those cusps, covering more of the biting surface when the damage extends that far.

You don't need to know which one you need before you come in. We'll look at your tooth, show you what we see, and explain why an inlay, an onlay, a filling or a dental crown is the right fit for that particular tooth.

When a back tooth needs more than a filling

A back tooth usually reaches this point when an older filling is large or wearing out, when decay has spread across more of the chewing surface, or when part of the tooth has chipped or cracked. Your back teeth handle the hard work of chewing, so a repair there has to hold up to pressure every day.

You might notice food catching in the same spot, a rough edge your tongue keeps finding, or a twinge when you bite down. Any of those is a good reason to have us take a look. Tooth decay can start small and grow over time, and catching it at a regular checkup gives you more ways to repair the tooth.

A repair that blends with your smile

Inlays and onlays are tooth-colored and matched to your natural teeth, so the repair blends in discreetly. Your back teeth show more than you might expect when you laugh, and a natural-looking repair lets you laugh freely. As with all our work, we care about how a repair looks as much as how it functions.

We make teeth that look like teeth, matching color, shape and proportion, and that applies to a molar as much as a front tooth. Because each inlay or onlay is crafted to fit precisely, it's durable and, with good care, can last many years, often longer than a large standard filling.

Having your tooth checked

If a back tooth feels different when you chew, or you've been told a filling needs replacing, book a visit and we'll look at it together. Our New Haven, CT dental team will explain your options in plain language and help you choose the repair that protects the most of your natural tooth. You can learn more on our inlays and onlays page.

Coverage depends on your plan, and our team is glad to help you understand your benefits before treatment. If you're not sure where your care falls, call us and we'll help you sort it out.

Frequently asked questions

Is an inlay or onlay better for my tooth than a crown?

When a tooth has moderate damage, an inlay or onlay often lets us repair it while keeping more of your natural tooth, since a crown covers the whole tooth. When the damage is more extensive, a crown can be the stronger choice. We'll explain which option fits your tooth and why.

Can you replace my old filling with an inlay or onlay?

If an older filling is large or wearing out, an inlay or onlay may be a good way to restore the tooth, because it's custom-made and bonded in for extra strength. We'll check the filling and the tooth around it, then walk you through whether that's the right repair for you.

How long do inlays and onlays last?

They're durable and, with good care, can last many years, often longer than a large standard filling, because each one is crafted to fit your tooth precisely. Brushing, flossing and regular checkups help protect yours, and we'll show you how to care for it so it lasts.

Will anyone be able to see my inlay or onlay?

Inlays and onlays are tooth-colored and matched to your natural teeth, so the repair blends in discreetly, even when you laugh. We care about how your repair looks as much as how it works, which is why we match color, shape and proportion to the teeth around it.

A strong, natural-looking back tooth lets you chew, laugh and smile without thinking about it. Call our New Haven dental office at (203) 624-5256, visit us at 375 Orange St, or send us a message to schedule a visit.

Published by Center for Esthetic Dentistry.