Dental Inlays and Onlays Flower Mound : Restorative Dentistry in Flower Mound – What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?
If you are looking for the most effective, and least invasive dental restorations you may be wondering about dental inlays and onlays in Flower Mound. These dental restorations are often confused with fillings, although they are considered a longer lasting option for a number of reasons.
Traditional amalgam fillings are 50-60% mercury, which has raised significant health concerns in recent years. Additionally, it does not bond with your tooth. Traditional mercury fillings remove a significant amount of healthy tooth tissue, to create a large enough pocket to hold the filling in place. The mercury filling is placed directly in the pocket. This method does not provide support for the tooth structure. Food particles and bacteria can accumulate in the pocket, leading to decay.
Inlays and onlays are fitted to the damaged area of the tooth, much like a typical filling. However, that is where the similarities cease. Instead of being formed in your mouth, these are fabricated in a dental laboratory using impressions. Because these restorations are bonded to the tooth, there is no need to remove healthy tissue. This preserves the structure and strength of your teeth. Without the need for a pocket, the risk of decay is significantly reduced.
When there is a lot of decay, mercury-amalgam fillings cannot be used because the tooth structure would be too weak. In this case, a crown is often recommended. However, the tooth must be reduced drastically and ground down to a peg. Inlays and onlays actually strengthen tooth structure more than a crown, simply by not grinding teeth into pegs.
The procedure for inlays and onlays is identical. The primary difference between the two is the size of the area to be treated. Inlays are used primarily to treat cavities and small areas of damage, and do not cover the top of a tooth. As the name suggests, onlays cover more of the tooth surface. They are used when there is damage to the cusp (tip) of the tooth, or the walls are compromised.
If you want to restore the condition of decaying teeth, or replace old mercury-amalgam fillings, dental inlays and onlays may be right for you. This procedure is the choice of Dr. Jonathan J. Golab, the primer dentist Flower Mound. Call us today, and discover the rewards of a beautifully healthy smile!
Traditional amalgam fillings are 50-60% mercury, which has raised significant health concerns in recent years. Additionally, it does not bond with your tooth. Traditional mercury fillings remove a significant amount of healthy tooth tissue, to create a large enough pocket to hold the filling in place. The mercury filling is placed directly in the pocket. This method does not provide support for the tooth structure. Food particles and bacteria can accumulate in the pocket, leading to decay.
Inlays and onlays are fitted to the damaged area of the tooth, much like a typical filling. However, that is where the similarities cease. Instead of being formed in your mouth, these are fabricated in a dental laboratory using impressions. Because these restorations are bonded to the tooth, there is no need to remove healthy tissue. This preserves the structure and strength of your teeth. Without the need for a pocket, the risk of decay is significantly reduced.
When there is a lot of decay, mercury-amalgam fillings cannot be used because the tooth structure would be too weak. In this case, a crown is often recommended. However, the tooth must be reduced drastically and ground down to a peg. Inlays and onlays actually strengthen tooth structure more than a crown, simply by not grinding teeth into pegs.
The procedure for inlays and onlays is identical. The primary difference between the two is the size of the area to be treated. Inlays are used primarily to treat cavities and small areas of damage, and do not cover the top of a tooth. As the name suggests, onlays cover more of the tooth surface. They are used when there is damage to the cusp (tip) of the tooth, or the walls are compromised.
If you want to restore the condition of decaying teeth, or replace old mercury-amalgam fillings, dental inlays and onlays may be right for you. This procedure is the choice of Dr. Jonathan J. Golab, the primer dentist Flower Mound. Call us today, and discover the rewards of a beautifully healthy smile!
