Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
Understanding Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
Fillings have come a long way in recent years. It’s no longer necessary to settle for the ugly metal fillings of the past. Now at Tribeca Smiles in New York, NY, you can avail yourself of fillings, which are invisible to the naked eye. They are called inlays, onlays, or overlays and are made from crafted dental porcelain to be bonded to the affected tooth. With general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Frederick Solomon’s skill in applying inlays and onlays, people will never even know that you’ve had work done since your tooth will look normal. When porcelain filling is affixed to the center of your tooth, we call it an inlay. However, when the erosion to the tooth affects the biting part of it, or when it needs to cover one or more of the tooth’s points or cusps, it’s an overlay or onlay.
Best Candidates for Porcelain Inlays and Onlays
With the scientific advances in medical-grade porcelain, more and more aesthetically pleasing results are now a reality. Good candidates are people who have damage to their teeth, but still have a decent amount of enamel left to work with instead of replacing with a crown. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate is to meet with Dr. Solomon for a one-on-one visit. But if you’re a candidate for a regular filling, you’re probably also suitable for an inlay or onlay. If you don’t have enough tooth left, it might be better to consider a porcelain crown.
What To Expect
At Tribeca Smiles, we can fit you for customized porcelain inlays in just two visits. On the first visit, Dr. Solomon will gently remove the old fillings and areas of decay. Impressions of the tooth will then be taken to provide customized molds for the dental lab to craft your inlays. They also work from photographs and other data to help them create a seamless match for your tooth. During this period of manufacture, if you would prefer a temporary restoration affixed for comfort, that can easily be accommodated. Your second visit is the big day! This is when Dr. Solomon will place the inlay or onlay and ensure that you have a good, tight fit which lines up with your bite and is comfortable.
Recovery
If you’ve had a regular filling before, you may have a pretty good understanding of what the post-procedure is like with porcelain inlays and onlays. Local anesthesia is typically utilized, so you’ll only feel a numbness in the immediate area. Hot and cold temperatures from food such as soup or ice cream can produce an uncomfortable sensation due to temporary sensitization from the procedure. This should abate within a few days. It’s also recommended to have a friend take you home after your procedure, if possible. However, some patients go right back to work without issues. You do need to give your mouth and teeth a short amount of time to adjust to this change, so eat less challenging foods and if you experience any pain, contact Tribeca Smiles right away.
Plan Your Procedure
We proudly provide porcelain Inlays and Onlays to help residents in New York achieve better smiles. If you’re unhappy with the appearance or function of your teeth for any reason, we encourage you to contact us today and schedule a consultation.
516-518-9465