Adhesive Dentistry
If you are someone who has had extensive dental work before, it is possible that you may eventually need ceramic inlays. Even though fillings are used to protect teeth when they are badly decayed, a filling does not guarantee that the tooth will be healthy again. Fillings can and often do deteriorate over time. This may be sped up by factors such as poor oral hygiene or even a dry mouth from medications. When your mouth is dry, this speeds up the growth and damage from the biofilm that accumulates daily. This is why people have an increased risk of periodontitis and other oral hygiene problems as they age.
WHAT ARE CERAMIC INLAYS/ONLAY?
Ceramic inlays are a lot like fillings but are specially molded to function like dentures or implants than a filling. The inlays are large custom-molded ceramic materials that are bonded to the tooth surface like a filling. However, they are a lot sturdier than fillings and will not crack and erode like a filling might.
HOW LONG DOES IT THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
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We have to take a mold of your teeth and send it out to a lab. This can take one week or two to complete, depending upon how backed up the lab may be.
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The procedure to prepare the tooth for the inlay is not much different than preparing for a large filling. The tooth must be drilled down until only the hard material remains. In fact, many patients will have inlays installed simply to get rid of old mercury fillings if we have to.
The Benefits of the Conservative Approach
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Superior Fit: They offer a conservative preparation that preserves as much healthy tooth as possible.
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Tooth Color: Boasting esthetic longevity, they are not likely to discolor over time as tooth-colored resin fillings often do.
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Tooth Structure Safeguard: They preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas, helping to ensure functional longevity.
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Easy Tooth Cleaning: Because the fit is tailored at all edges and the preparation minimal, your tooth can be easier to clean than it would be with full coverage restorative alternatives such as a dental crown.
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Tight Space Fulfillments: If you have a cavity between your teeth, consider an inlay rather than a direct composite filling. They are better at sealing teeth to keep out bacteria; they are easy to clean, will not stain and offer exceptional longevity.
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Strength and Stability
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Weak Tooth Protector: An onlay can protect the weak areas of the tooth. The procedure does not require the complete reshaping of the tooth.
DOES A CERAMIC INLAY REQUIRE A ROOT CANAL?
No. An inlay may be the last line of defense before you have cavities so massive that you need a root canal. A root canal is performed when the roots are infected from severe decay, and the tooth even changes color and becomes hypersensitive as a result.
How long do ceramic inlays last?
Dental inlays typically last between half a decade and upwards of two full decades in length. While there is no guarantee dental inlays will approach either of these extremes, fall in the middle or elsewhere, we can help preserve the dental inlays.
