Dental inlays and Onlays in Kingwood, TX

You may have just enough tooth decay on a tooth to warrant a restoration — just not as comprehensive as a full-coverage crown. This is why we offer dental inlay and onlay services to our patients at Made Ya Smile Dental in Kingwood, TX. Also known as indirect fillings, the inlay and onlay treatment process has the goal of strengthening the base structure of the tooth with materials, like composite resin, gold, and/or porcelain. Created custom for your tooth or teeth, our inlays fit within the center of the bite of the tooth while the onlays go on the exterior sides of a tooth. We would be happy to examine you to see what treatments may be necessary to rebuild the functionality of your teeth. Submit an online form or call and make an appointment at our Kingwood office today.

Only your Made Ya Smile Dental dentist can determine if you are a candidate for a dental inlay or onlay after you have had an x-ray to see the extent of your tooth decay. A recommendation for an inlay or onlay may be necessary if there is significant damage that a filling could not fix. If only a partial crown is needed on the exterior sides of the tooth or within the surface of the bite of the tooth, then you may be offered a solution that involves a dental inlay or onlay.

In your treatment planning session, we will discuss the type of sedation and anesthetic we will use during the placement of your dental onlay or inlay. Before this appointment, we will send out your digital x-rays and impressions to a dental laboratory to have your porcelain restorative made. A temporary inlay or onlay will be put on the tooth until the next appointment. Regardless of what is chosen, we will take a gentle approach to your treatment. Once you are comfortable and numb in the dental chair, your dentist will prepare the tooth by clearing out the damaged/decayed area. Composite resin will be applied directly to your teeth in a shade made to match your natural teeth. Composite resin is applied directly to your teeth. An inlay or onlay that is lab-fabricated will be placed after the temporary restoration is removed. Then, your dentist will bond the newly made restoration to the tooth. Once the inlay or onlay is bonded to the tooth, our team will polish it and make adjustments to give you a great fit.

If you have a problem with the fit of your new inlay or onlay, then a follow-up appointment may be necessary to correct the fit. Otherwise, there are no other follow-up appointments once it is bonded to the tooth. You will need to have your dental cleanings and annual dental examinations as usual. We will check the inlay or onlay for wear and tear at each examination to see how it is holding up and if it needs to be replaced.

Even though a dental onlay or inlay can be used for cosmetic purposes, you may also have some coverage on your insurance plan to cover cavities. To get the affordable care you need for a healthy smile, we will file a claim on your behalf to your insurance. We do offer several payment methods to make covering the cost of your treatment convenient. Flexible low-interest financing through CareCredit® may also be available.

There are times when a crown or a full-coverage restorative is not needed to repair tooth decay. Somewhere in between needing more than a filling but not quite a full-coverage crown, there is a necessity for a dental onlay or inlay to repair a target spot on a tooth. If you would like to discuss your options in repairing your teeth, please schedule a consultation at our office in Kingwood, TX at Made Ya Smile Dental.