Dr. Richard Pape at Dental Associates Orland Park offers dental inlays and onlays to restore teeth that are damaged or worn. Learn about dental inlays and onlays and how Dr. Pape can help restore your smile.

Dental Inlays & Onlays

Dr. Pape and his team uses dental inlays and onlays to restore teeth damaged by decay or wear. Inlays and onlays are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They provide more strength than a filling yet are more conservative than a full crown.

A porcelain onlay is fabricated to fit your tooth precisely and is bonded tightly in place to strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. Like a crown, an onlay covers and protects the tooth's biting surface. Where a crown covers the entire tooth, an onlay fits inside the tooth cusps and covers only the biting surfaces. Because an onlay is fabricated in a dental laboratory, it takes two or more appointments to restore a tooth with a porcelain onlay.

Dental inlays and onlays can be made of tooth-colored materials such as ceramic or porcelain, or a dental composite. Dr. Pape will help you choose the best material for your individual case. 

In some situations, we may recommend a crown instead of an inlay or onlay. Learn more about dental crowns.
 

Dental inlays and onlays can restore teeth damaged by decay or wear

Before and after of teeth restored by dental inlays.

Ready to Get Started?

Request an appointment with Dr. Pape by clicking the button below.


Also Consider Reading...

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Dental Bonding

Crowns & Bridges