Because your mouth is one of the focal points of your face, it plays a major role in how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. Think about it…
Nowadays, we’re surprised when a big-screen star laughs with abandon and we catch a flash of a silver-gray amalgam filling. It’s so unusual to see because advances in dental technology are making silver mouth such a vision of the past. And not just for red-carpet stars but for all of us “real” people.
The natural-looking alternatives to silver restorations not only look great, they also strengthen teeth. One option is called “inlays and onlays.” They’re made of tooth-colored materials that are virtually invisible to the casual eye. Let’s get to the simple definitions:
Inlays & Onlays – Both are tooth restorations for premolars and molars that are custom-made outside of the mouth. They’re one solid piece that is the exact shape and size of the cavity they will fill and used for restoring 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 crown. Inlays and onlays are cemented into place.
- 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.
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 Abbotsford, about replacing those silver fillings with the natural strength and sheen of inlays and onlays. Call Lifetime Dental at Sevenoaks today at (604) 409-4672. We’ll be very happy to welcome you!
