Dental inlays and onlays are long-term restorations that provide structure to damaged teeth. Your Northridge dentist may recommend an inlay or onlay restoration if you have dental decay, a cracked tooth, or a fractured cusp. Restoring the tooth with an inlay or onlay helps prevent further damage.
Dental inlays and onlays serve two unique purposes.
A dental inlay is like a permanent filling. Unlike a composite filling though, a dental inlay lasts for decades. The material used (gold or porcelain) is biocompatible and robust enough to withstand bite pressure and attacks from bacteria and acids. A dental inlay is ideal for patients who want a high-quality and more extensive filling option once a tooth has been damaged by decay.
A dental onlay looks similar to a dental crown but shorter. It only covers the tooth’s cusps and provides structure and strength if a tooth is damaged by a crack or cusp fracture. However, unlike a dental crown, the onlay doesn’t cover the entire tooth. Therefore, it’s a less invasive procedure, allowing us to preserve precious, healthy tooth structure.
With proper dental home care and routine dental visits, your inlay or onlay can last between 20 and 30 years. Poor home care practices can result in decay around the restoration margins. The only way to treat new or recurrent decay is to remove the restoration, remove the decay, and fabricate a new inlay or onlay – if that’s still an option. If not, you may need a crown or some other restorative procedure.
During your appointment, your Northridge dentist will start by numbing the tooth. They’ll remove decay and prepare the tooth for restoration, polishing the margins to ensure a proper fit. Then, they’ll take an impression of the preparation. The impression is used to fabricate the restoration. Once the restoration fabrication is complete, your dentist will disinfect the tooth before bonding the restoration to the tooth.
You shouldn’t experience any pain during this procedure because we numb the tooth thoroughly. You may experience some sensitivity to heat, cold, and bite pressure in the first few days after the procedure.
The main reason for experiencing sensitivity is because we’ve disturbed the nerve by removing decay or preparing the tooth. If you experience pain or your sensitivity doesn’t go away after a few days or worsens, call us immediately.
We want every patient to feel at ease in our office. We offer several dental sedation options to help keep you comfortable during your preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services. Talk to your Northridge dentist to learn more.
Inlays and onlays can start at around $700 per tooth. The cost depends on the size of the restoration and the material used.
Whether your insurance pays for dental inlays and onlays depends on your plan. Plans that do cover inlays and onlays will generally cover between 50% and 80% up to your annual maximum, as long as there is a restorative need for the procedure. For example, restoring decay or a fractured cusp may be covered, but replacing a filling for aesthetics is not. We’ll go over all your payment and financing options during your consultation.
It takes precision and expertise to prepare and fabricate dental inlays and onlays. Dr. Omid Barkhordar received his dental training at one of the premier dental schools in the country. He prides himself on providing customized care for each patient and serving their dental needs with excellence. Contact us to learn more!
Inlay And Onlay Restorations in Northridge Are Part Of Our Tailored Approach
Contact Dentist of Northridge at (818) 873-7245 to schedule an appointment and get your customized treatment plan.
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