Inlays and Onlays

CUSTOM DENTAL INLAYS AND ONLAYS IN SURBITON

Does your tooth need more than a filling but less than a crown? Dental inlays and onlays are advanced restorative treatments used to repair teeth with moderate decay or damage. These bespoke restorations are custom-made in a dental laboratory to fit your tooth precisely, restoring its natural shape, strength, and appearance. By choosing this approach, you can preserve more of your healthy tooth structure while reinforcing back teeth that handle significant chewing pressure.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INLAYS AND ONLAYS

While both are durable restorations crafted outside the mouth, they serve different purposes based on the extent of the damage.

• Dental Inlays: Used when damage is confined to the area between the cusps (the raised points on the chewing surface). The restoration fits within the tooth’s grooves much like a puzzle piece.
• Dental Onlays: Sometimes called “partial crowns,” these cover a larger area and extend over one or more of the tooth’s cusps. They are ideal for reinforcing teeth with substantial structural loss, preventing further fractures while maintaining as much natural enamel as possible.

DIGITAL PRECISION & BIOMIMETIC RESTORATION

At Surbiton Dental, we use a “”Biomimetic”” approach to Inlays and Onlays, mimicking the natural properties of your teeth to ensure the strongest possible bond with the least amount of drilling:

iTero Element 5D Digital Scanning: We have replaced traditional putty moulds with high-definition 3D laser scans. This captures the microscopic anatomy of your prepared tooth, ensuring a “”puzzle-piece”” fit that traditional impressions simply cannot match.

CAD/CAM Laboratory Design: Your restoration is digitally engineered using Computer-Aided Design. This allows our technicians to mill your Inlay or Onlay from a solid block of reinforced ceramic, ensuring there are no internal weak points or air bubbles.

High-Translucency Lithium Disilicate (E.max): We primarily use E.max for these restorations. It is a high-strength glass-ceramic that shares the same wear-resistance and light-reflecting properties as natural tooth enamel, making the transition between tooth and restoration invisible.

Adhesive Bonding Technology: We utilise 8th-generation bonding protocols to chemically fuse the porcelain to your tooth. This technology actually restores the structural integrity of a fractured tooth, often making it as strong as it was before the damage occurred.

WHEN ARE INLAYS AND ONLAYS RECOMMENDED?

These restorations provide a reliable middle ground for teeth that are structurally compromised but still retain a significant amount of healthy tissue. We often recommend them for:

• Cracked or Fractured Teeth: Reinforcing molars with hairline cracks or minor fractures.
• Moderate Decay: Restoring areas where decay is too extensive for a standard filling.
• Worn Surfaces: Rebuilding teeth worn down by grinding (bruxism) or erosion.
• Replacing Failing Fillings: Upgrading large, weakened fillings that are beginning to break down.

THE RESTORATION PROCEDURE & MATERIALS

The process typically requires two appointments to ensure a precise, long-lasting fit:

1. Preparation: Your dentist removes any decay and takes digital scans or impressions of the tooth.
2. Temporary Protection: A temporary restoration is placed to protect the tooth while your custom piece is crafted in the lab.
3. Final Bonding: Once ready, the bespoke inlay or onlay is permanently bonded to your tooth using high-strength adhesive.

We offer a variety of high-performance materials to suit your needs:

1. Porcelain: Highly aesthetic, stain-resistant, and blends seamlessly with natural enamel.
2. Composite Resin: A versatile, tooth-coloured option often used for smaller restorations.
3. Gold: Offers unmatched durability and biocompatibility, making it an excellent choice for molars where function is the priority.

BENEFITS: WHY CHOOSE AN INLAY OR ONLAY?

Choosing an inlay or onlay over a full crown offers several advantages for your long-term oral health:

• Tooth Preservation: They require significantly less removal of healthy enamel than a full crown.
• Precision Fit: Custom-made for your unique tooth, reducing the risk of future decay at the edges.
• Superior Strength: They reinforce weakened teeth, helping to prevent future fractures.
• Decades of Durability: Crafted from strong materials like porcelain or gold, these restorations can last for many years with proper care.

BOOK A CONSULTATION AT SURBITON DENTAL

If you have a cracked, worn, or damaged tooth, our team at Surbiton Dental can help you explore whether a dental inlay or onlay is the right choice. These custom-made dental restorations offer a durable, minimally invasive solution when a standard filling isn’t enough, but a crown isn’t yet necessary.

We’ve successfully restored hundreds of smiles with indirect tooth fillings, particularly in molars and premolars, preserving natural structure and improving function. Using the latest materials and techniques, we ensure every inlay and onlay restoration is built to last.

Book a consultation today and see how the Surbiton Dental team can help you protect and restore your smile with precision care.

For more information regarding this treatment, contact us or call 020 8399 4311

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