Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Inlays and Onlays in Inglewood, CA

Restore the strength and beauty of your smile with custom dental inlays and onlays at Blue Diamond Dental. When a tooth suffers from decay or damage that is too extensive for a standard filling, we provide a durable, natural-looking solution. Our experienced team in Inglewood, CA, helps you achieve lasting oral health with precision-crafted restorations.

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What Are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are restorative dental treatments used to repair teeth with moderate to severe damage. When more than half of a tooth’s biting surface needs repair, we often recommend these custom-made pieces. We bond them directly to the damaged area to restore the tooth’s exact shape and function.

We can craft your restoration from gold, composite resin, or porcelain. Many of our patients prefer high-quality porcelain because of its incredible strength and ability to match your natural tooth color perfectly.

The Difference Between an Inlay and an Onlay

While both treatments repair damaged teeth, we use them for different levels of tooth structure loss:

  • Dental Inlays: An inlay fits securely inside the cusp tips (the top edges) of your tooth. It functions much like a traditional filling but offers greater durability.
  • Dental Onlays: An onlay covers a larger area, extending over one or more of the tooth’s cusps. We often refer to onlays as partial crowns because they offer substantial reconstruction.

The Benefits of Choosing Inlays and Onlays

Choosing an inlay or onlay at Blue Diamond Dental provides excellent long-term benefits for your oral health.

Traditional fillings can reduce the natural strength of a tooth by up to 50 percent. In contrast, we use special high-strength resins to bond inlays and onlays directly to your tooth. This advanced bonding process can actually increase the strength of your tooth by up to 75 percent.

Because of this superior support, your new restoration can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years with proper care. They also serve as an excellent, conservative alternative to a full dental crown when the tooth damage is not extensive enough to require complete coverage.

What to Expect During Your Procedure

Getting your custom inlay or onlay typically requires two comfortable visits to our Inglewood dental office.

During your first appointment, we remove the decayed area or old filling and prepare the tooth. We take precise impressions of your bite to ensure a perfect fit. We send these impressions to a specialized lab where technicians expertly fabricate your custom restoration. Before you leave, we place a temporary sealant to protect your tooth.

At your second appointment, we remove the temporary sealant. Dr. Anthony Ortega carefully checks your custom piece to ensure it fits flawlessly. Once everything looks and feels exactly right, we permanently bond the restoration to your tooth and polish it to a smooth, natural finish.

Trusted Dental Care in the South Bay Area

Blue Diamond Dental has proudly served Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, and the wider South Bay area for over 50 years. We combine a patient-first approach with advanced dental technology to deliver precise and comfortable care. We take the time to understand your needs and provide the highest level of skill at every single visit.

Restore Your Smile Today

Protect your oral health and rebuild your smile with complete confidence. Our compassionate team is ready to evaluate your needs and find the right restorative treatment for you.

Schedule your consultation online today to get started!

FAQ

Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin. These pieces are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth. An onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.

Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. In recent years, however, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and color, which can potentially match the natural color of your teeth.

Inlays and onlays require two appointments to complete the procedure. During the first visit, the filling being replaced or the damaged or decaying area of the tooth is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, an impression of the tooth is made by the dentist, and sent to a lab for fabrication. The dentist will then apply a temporary sealant on the tooth and schedule the next appointment.

At the second appointment, the temporary sealant is removed. Dr. Ortega will then make sure that the inlay or onlay fits correctly. If the fit is satisfactory, the inlay or onlay will be bonded to the tooth with a strong resin and polished to a smooth finish.

Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. As an alternative, inlays and onlays, which are bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent. As a result, they can last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.