Restorations
What is the difference between a filling and an inlay or onlay?
A filling patches a small cavity chairside. Inlays and onlays are sturdier lab-made restorations for larger damage — too much for a filling, too little for a crown — keeping as much of your own tooth as possible.
The middle path between a filling and a crown
A filling patches a small cavity or chip, usually while you wait in the chair. Inlays and onlays are the sturdier, lab-made cousins — reached for when there is too much damage for a filling to hold well, but not enough to justify shaving the tooth down for a full crown.
The difference between the two is simple: an inlay nestles neatly inside the tooth's cusps, while an onlay drapes over one or more of them as well. Both are shaped precisely to your tooth and bonded firmly into place.
Why we like them
This middle path is very much our instinct — it lets us keep the maximum amount of your own healthy tooth rather than removing more than the damage really calls for. You get a strong, natural-looking, long-lasting repair without stepping up to a crown before it is needed.
Which one is right depends on how much tooth is left and where the damage sits. We will look, talk you through the options honestly, and point you to the gentlest choice that will genuinely last.
Common questions
Are inlays and onlays better than fillings?
Not better, but suited to bigger jobs. For a large cavity, a lab-made inlay or onlay is stronger and longer-lasting than a big direct filling, while still keeping more tooth than a crown would.
Do inlays and onlays take more than one visit?
Traditionally yes, since they are made in a lab, so a temporary is placed first. We will explain the exact steps and timing for your tooth when we plan the treatment.