The Middle Ground
Inlays and onlays are precision porcelain restorations that fall between a filling and a crown. When a tooth has too much damage for a filling but doesn’t need a full crown, these are often the right answer — stronger, longer-lasting, and more conservative than either alternative.
An inlay fits inside the cusps (the raised points) of a tooth — like a porcelain puzzle piece. An onlay covers one or more cusps but stops short of covering the whole tooth like a crown does. Both are bonded to the tooth and look identical to natural enamel.
Inlays and onlays preserve more healthy tooth structure than crowns. They’re much stronger than composite fillings, especially in molars that do heavy chewing work. The porcelain is custom-milled for a precise fit, so the seal at the edges is excellent — which means less risk of new decay underneath.
A typical inlay or onlay takes two visits. At the first, we prepare the tooth and take impressions; you leave with a temporary. The lab mills the porcelain restoration to fit exactly, and at the second visit we bond it permanently in place. The whole process is unhurried and well-explained.
A filling for the cracks. A crown for the disasters. An inlay or onlay for everything in between.
We’ll walk you through what to expect before your appointment.
