Dental Onlays and Inlays

Dental onlays and inlays in Mundelein, IL, are dental restorations used to preserve teeth with extensive decay. Depending on your tooth structure and level of decay, Dr. Anthony Markiewicz or Dr. David Markiewicz may recommend an onlay or inlay to preserve your tooth.

Dental Onlays

Dental onlays fit directly on top of your tooth. Onlays, inlays, and crowns are all appropriate for placing on the back of chewing teeth to strengthen them and prevent extraction. Your dentist will show you several shades of teeth, and you can select the one that is closest to your own.

Onlays are larger than inlays because they cover more tooth decay. However, they are smaller than dental crowns. Our dentists select this option when the decayed portion of a tooth extends past its cusp. Dr. Anthony Markiewicz or Dr. David Markiewicz reserve dental onlays for teeth with extensive damage that has progressed beyond the center of a tooth.

Dental crowns are a step above dental onlays. Our dentists may recommend a crown if your tooth has significant structural damage, decay, or a deep crack.

Dental Inlays

This dental restoration covers moderately severe tooth decay that has not expanded beyond the tooth’s center. Our laboratory technicians customize the shade and shape of your new inlay. They also mold it to fit the unique grooves in your teeth. Due to their smaller size, people may be unable to see your inlay when you smile or speak.

What to Expect When Receiving an Onlay or Inlay

The first step is for Dr. Anthony Markiewicz or Dr. David Markiewicz to remove the decayed portion of your tooth if you have never had any treatment for it. Some patients need an onlay or inlay because their filling has fallen out or the decay underneath has spread. In this case, your dentist will need to remove the damaged restoration.

Next, your dentist shapes the hole in your tooth to allow placement of the onlay or inlay. Dr. Anthony Markiewicz or Dr. David Markiewicz then creates a mold of your tooth and asks you to select the shade for your new restoration. During your first appointment, the last step is to place a temporary filling to contain the cavity.

When you return for the second appointment, your dentist will remove the temporary filling and anesthetize you before attaching the onlay or inlay with dental cement.

Please contact us with additional questions or schedule an appointment if you need dental onlays and inlays in Mundelein, IL.