Painfree Dentistry

(02) 9635 5166

77 Marion St Harris Park
Harris Park, NSW 2150

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Painfree Dentistry > General Dentistry > Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays can benefit your smile and weakened or damaged teeth in many ways.

Inlays & Onlays in Parramatta

woman with inlays in parramatta

A tooth that has been damaged by tooth decay can be restored and repaired.

Dentists can use porcelain inlays and onlays to fix teeth and renew your bite's strength when the damage is too large to be fixed with a filling but not serious enough for a dental crown.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are also known as a partial crown and are made from materials such as porcelain.

An inlay is used to restore damage in the centre of the tooth that has not reached the cusps. An onlay is used when the damage has reached one of the cusps. Your dentist will discuss which one is best suited to your case. Inlays and onlays are a great solution as these can be custom-made to fit your tooth perfectly.

They restore the health and appearance of your smile and are almost invisible. Generally, inlays and onlays can be completed in one visit.

Why Would You Need Inlays/Onlays?

If your teeth have been decayed and a filing is not good enough to fix the tooth, inlay or onlay treatment may be recommended. A variety of things can cause decay; however, regular visits to the dentist and good oral hygiene can stop decay from occurring.

An inlay will be used if the damage has not reached the cusp of the tooth. If the cusp of the tooth needs repairing, the dentist may recommend onlay treatment. You might need this treatment if you have broken your tooth. A broken tooth can happen from wear and tear over time, chewing hard food, or clenching and grinding.

Inlays and Onlays for Fillings

Have you got a filling that is dark and noticeable? Then this procedure can be used to replace it. Talk to your dentist about replacing your fillings with a tooth-coloured restoration that will improve the appearance of your mouth.

Inlays and Onlays at a Glance

Inlays and onlays serve the same purpose, but they work differently or protect a tooth in slightly different ways. These cosmetic restorations are similar to dental crowns but not as robust. Below, we share the key differences between inlays and onlays.

Common Ground

Your Harris Park dentist uses inlays and onlays when a tooth needs more than a dental filling but not quite a tooth crown for restoration and aesthetics. Both fit the tooth's bite surface to protect, conceal and treat.

About Inlays

An Inlay fits between the cusps of your tooth's bite surface to protect smaller areas of decay, imperfections or damage. Typically, with inlays, we remove less tooth structure to restore strength, integrity and general aesthetics.

About Onlays

An onlay fits over the cusps of your tooth's bite surface to protect more extensive areas of decay or damage. Typically, your dentist removes more tooth structure to cosmetically enhance or treat tooth damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you treat a chipped tooth?

Yes, we can treat a chipped tooth in Harris Park, NSW. We repair the chip using various methods, depending on the complexity or severity of your tooth chip or fracture.

Teeth chip or crack for many reasons, including misaligned bite, injury, general wear or biting down on a hard object. Teeth can also chip due to decay or untreated oral infections. Fortunately, we can treat these oral health issues and restore the tooth to health.

Tooth Repair Methods

Methods we may use to repair a tooth chip include:

Dental bonding—Tooth-coloured composite resin spread and set across the tooth chip
Dental veneer—A dental veneer can hide a gummy smile, conceal tooth flaws and hide chips
Dental crown—Dental crowns have a variety of essential uses, including cosmetic dentistry
Extraction and tooth replacement—for severe breaks

Your dentist will help you choose the best option based on the size and nature of your chip. Some chips are merely cosmetic. Others may expose the inner tooth, leaving it vulnerable to infection or decay. Significant chips or fractures may require a tooth crown instead of dental bonding.

Are You Ready to Talk to Your Parramatta Dentist?

If you have a tooth chip or other breakage, we encourage you to contact our dental team to arrange a consultation with the dentist.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Couple Smiling with onlays parramatta

There are two main benefits to this treatment, and those are:

Maintaining Tooth Structure—Dentists can maintain a great portion of your tooth’s structure with this treatment. There is not as much prep work with inlays and onlays compared to a dental crown

Cost—Fewer materials are used in this treatment compared to a crown, and the tooth does not require as much prep work, translating to a lower cost

Another benefit of this treatment is the high success rate. Inlays or onlays are custom-made for every patient’s tooth, making the treatment last longer.

Am I Suitable for an Inlay or Onlay?

Patients are suitable if there is moderate tooth decay or damage.

Dr Alam will need to examine you and discuss your cosmetic treatment options in a consultation.

What Should You Expect During the Inlay or Onlay Treatment?

The treatment will be completed over multiple visits to the dentist.

During the first visit, your tooth will be prepared for the procedure. An impression will be taken of your tooth, and we may fit a temporary inlay/onlay while your permanent one is being made. Once the permanent fixture is completed, you will have the temporary one removed and the new one fitted.

Are There Any Post-Treatment Guidelines?

Your dentist will discuss aftercare. The main things to avoid are hard or sticky food while the temporary fixture is in place. After your permanent inlay/onlay has been fitted, you can eat, brush and floss as normal.

Call Us to Help Treat Your Smile

Keeping your teeth healthy and attractive is not challenging. Arrange an appointment to discuss your options at Painfree Dentistry.

Our Team

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Dr Elie Alam

Dr Alam graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney in 1995. After working at various practices, Dr Alam opened his own practice in 1997 in Harris Park Village, located on the edge of the vibrant Parramatta CBD under the banner of Painfree Dentistry. The practice has grown to become the biggest privately owned practice in the Parramatta district, with seven dentists, an oral health therapist, and many supporting staff.

Dr Alam is passionate about learning innovations and using the latest technologies. With an increasing focus spanning ...

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We Restore Structure and Strength to Your Teeth