Some teeth are damaged to the point that they cannot be treated with a mere filling. However, the damage might not be extensive enough to justify the use of a crown. In such cases, an inlay or onlay will prove optimal for tooth restoration. Inlays and Onlays are indirect fillings. This means both are fabricated far away from the patient, typically in a dental lab. The inlay or onlay is then bonded directly to the tooth in a subsequent visit.
Dental inlays and Onlays are fairly similar. However, there is one important difference between the two worth noting. Dental inlays are indirect fillings that fit with the diminutive points of the back teeth. These points are also referred to as cusps. Inlays are added to premolar or molar teeth.
Alternatively, dental Onlays are indirect fillings that cover one or several such points or cusps.