What is an onlay?
An onlay is also called a partial crown or ¾ crown. It’s the restoration categorized between a filling and a crown. Made from porcelain or heat-cured resins, an onlay is fabricated in a dental lab. It fits between the cusps on top of a molar (back tooth).
What is an inlay?
Inlays fit between the cusps of a molar as well, but unlike onlays, inlays extend down the side of the affected tooth.
When are onlays and inlays used?
Onlays and inlays are a good option to restore a tooth with extensive decay. They’re more durable than fillings, yet require less tooth preparation than crowns. Common treatments in which onlays and inlays are used include:
- Cosmetic enhancement
- Repair fractured or broken teeth
- Repair teeth with significant decay
- Replace failing dental fillings
- Replace amalgam fillings