Dental Inlays and Onlays

While a crown is used to cover the entire top surface of a decayed or damaged tooth, an inlay/outlay only covers a small portion of the tooth. With a filling the area is filled with a composite material or amalgam. However, an inlay/outlay is different because it is a single solid piece of composite material that is fabricated, shaped, and sized to fill the gap perfectly. The inlay/outlay is cemented into place.

Inlays Vs Fillings

The main difference between an inlay and an outlay is that an inlay fills the area between the cusps of the teeth, and an outlay will only cover a single cusp. An inlay is often used when a cavity is larger than that which would typically require a regular filling. The process to insert an inlay is the same as that of a filling, with the same drilling and cleaning process before the inlay is cemented into place.

Onlays Vs Dental Crowns

While an onlay will only cover a cusp of the tooth, crowns are used when a much greater surface area of the tooth is damaged or decayed. The process of fitting an onlay is less aggressive than that of a crown, as less of the tooth structure needs to be removed. Both the inlay and onlay must be carefully fabricated in a dental lab and designed to match the natural colour of the teeth.