A broken tooth is unsettling. It can hurt, it can change how your smile looks, and it tends to arrive without warning. The good news is that repairing one is usually simpler than patients expect, and you do not have to live with the discomfort while you decide. For damage that sits between a small cavity and a badly compromised tooth, inlays and onlays are often the answer.
What inlays and onlays are
An inlay or onlay is a custom-made restoration that covers the damaged part of a tooth. Each one is crafted from an enamel-colored ceramic or resin material, shaded to match the teeth around it, and built from precise imprints of your own tooth. Because it is made to fit you and only you, it settles into place accurately and blends in with your smile.
Think of it as a repair sized to the actual damage. Nothing more of your natural tooth is covered than needs to be.
Inlay, onlay, or crown: which does what
The two restorations do similar work but protect different territory.
- An inlay repairs damage within the chewing surface of the tooth, filling the indented area between the cusps, the raised points on top. It handles cavities too large for an ordinary filling.
- An onlay shields a larger area, extending over one or more cusps. Onlays are sometimes called partial crowns for exactly that reason.
Where do full crowns fit in? A crown caps the entire tooth, which is the right call when damage is extensive, but it is not always the right fit for a broken tooth. If enough healthy structure remains, an onlay can do the job while preserving more of it. At the other end of the scale, a small cavity may need only a composite filling. Your dentist will look at the tooth, explain what each option involves, and recommend the one that matches your situation. You will not be talked into more restoration than you need.
When a broken tooth needs one
Inlays and onlays are used to repair teeth broken by dental trauma. That can mean a sports injury, a car accident, or simply biting down on something unforgiving, like a popcorn kernel. They also restore teeth that are fractured, cracked, or severely decayed.
They hold up well, too. Published research reports a success rate of more than 90 percent for these restorations, which is why they are a dependable choice for bringing a broken tooth back to full function.
Schedule an appointment
If you are putting off treatment because dental visits make you anxious, you are in the right place. Fear-Less Dentistry is the founding idea of our practice, and a broken tooth is one of the most common reasons a nervous patient finally calls. We will evaluate the tooth, walk you through the options, and go at your pace.
To schedule a visit at Smile Arts Dental in Carmel, call (317) 575-1995 or request an appointment online.
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. For guidance about your own smile, talk with your dentist.