Note: This article is first in a 4-part series about the cosmetic dentistry procedure of indirect fillings, and what patients need to know. The rest of the sections will be posted every 5 days or so.

There are several types of dental restorations which dentists use to treat tooth decay or similar damages, with inlays and onlays being some of the more preferred kinds over full coverage dental crowns. “Inlay” refers to the case when the material is bonded within the center of a tooth. On the other hand, if the damage has spread over other cusps of the tooth, the restoration required is called an “onlay”.

These indirect fillings are often chosen over other reparative solutions because other than being aesthetically and functionally excellent, they are more durable and well-fitting, too. Compared to dental fillings, inlays and onlays are shaped not within the mouth, but in a dental laboratory prior to fitting and bonding them to the damaged tooth.