65 Wall St, Albertville, AL

Porcelain Dental Inlays/ Onlays

Albertville and Gadsden, Alabama

porcelain inlays onlays albertvilleIf you need a filling or want to have your old filling replaced, a porcelain inlay or onlay may be the best restoration for you. Porcelain inlays/onlays are tooth colored fillings that strengthen your teeth and protect them from further damage. If you have never tried cosmetic dentistry, replacing old fillings with tooth colored fillings is a great way to get started.

Porcelain Inlays vs. Composite Fillings

Albertville cosmetic dentists Dr. Jonathan Renfroe and Dr. Josh Conley generally recommend tooth colored fillings when your cavity is small to moderate in size. However, for large cavities that leave your tooth with very little healthy tissue, porcelain inlays and onlays provide you with a more effective restoration.

Porcelain inlays/onlays are created and hardened in a lab. They are very durable and strengthen your remaining tooth structure when they are bonded into your tooth. A composite resin filling is sculpted right inside of your tooth.

Because your inlay or onlay is created in a lab, it requires two office visits. When recommended by our doctors, our patients feel that porcelain inlays/onlays are worth the extra office visit.

The Difference between Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

Porcelain inlays and onlays are made from the same materials and with the same lab process. The real difference between them is size. A porcelain inlay will treat the same problems as a composite resin filling. They are small and fit between the cusps of your tooth.

Porcelain onlays are larger. They cover one or more cusps of a tooth. An onlay is used when the area of decay or damage is too large for a filling but not so large that a dental crown is required.

At your first visit, our Albertville cosmetic dentists will prepare your tooth and create an impression of the prepared tooth that will be sent to a dental laboratory. Once there, a highly trained dental lab technician will make your custom-made restoration. A temporary filling will be placed in your tooth while you wait for the final restoration. When you return for your second visit, the inlay or onlay will be bonded onto the tooth.

Please contact our Albertville cosmetic dentists today to schedule your initial appointment. Wall Street Dentistry serves patients in Albertville and Gadsden, Alabama.

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