Dental Inlays & Onlays

content-inlaysIndirect Fillings in Arlington Heights

To restore the structure of a tooth after it has been damaged by decay or injury, Dr. Brent Engelberg offers patients several options. Composite resin fillings can repair small areas of decay or damage, and porcelain crowns can correct more extensive damage. Two lesser-known options fall in the middle of the spectrum and can repair moderate decay or damage more conservatively than a crown: inlays and onlays. Known as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays are constructed by our dental lab technicians from hard porcelain and then placed onto the tooth by Dr. Engelberg.

Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

Offering more durability than composite resin, inlays and onlays last longer than fillings and actually strengthen the tooth structure after it has been damaged. Inlays are used in the depressions of the teeth between cusps, and onlays are placed on the cusp. Inlays and onlays can be used to repair decayed teeth or build up the structure and shape of a tooth that has been worn down or broken. Dr. Engelberg will first prepare the tooth by removing any decay present and reshaping its surface. Next, he will make an impression of your teeth so that his dental laboratory can create your inlay or onlay. At your next appointment, he will bond the restoration to your tooth and make necessary adjustments to ensure a good fit and a proper bite.

Benefits of Inlays and Onlays

Preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible is the key to maintaining healthy, functional teeth. While dental crowns can address all the same problems as an inlay or onlay, they require a fair amount of tooth removal for optimal fit. Dr. Engelberg will take the most conservative approach possible to help you maintain stronger teeth, using inlays and onlays when appropriate. Not only will you maintain the integrity of your teeth with indirect fillings, but they will also be virtually undetectable so that no one will know where your natural tooth ends and your filling begins.

For exceptional restorative and cosmetic dental care in Arlington Heights, contact Dr. Brent Engelberg today. We serve patients from Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Palatine, Wheeling, Barrington, and the surrounding areas.