While patients can also opt for tried-and-tested silver (amalgam) fillings, we often recommend white fillings, inlays and onlays for those who want to protect teeth but retain a seamless look. Find out more about our state-of-the-art tooth-coloured inlays, onlays, and fillings below.
The main purpose of dental inlays, onlays and fillings is to fix a cavity and protect teeth. Cavities are areas of tooth decay that appear as holes in the teeth. Also known as caries, some are tiny and some are larger.
Dental fillings are typically used to plug smaller tooth cavities to protect teeth from further decay. They can be made from silver amalgam or a composite white material. Either way, once the resin-like material is applied and hardened, it becomes part of the tooth, forming an impenetrable barrier.
Alternatively, when tooth decay goes untreated, the cavity it forms can expand. Eventually, the damage is extensive enough that conventional fillings are no longer an option. This is where inlays and onlays can help.
Inlays and onlays are milled from a robust material like dental porcelain and are designed to cover a larger portion of the tooth. As the names suggest, inlays sit within the tooth’s cusp while onlays are designed to fit ‘over’ the tooth. So much so, that they’re often referred to as ‘partial crowns’.
Because inlays and onlays need to be made in a lab setting, costs are typically higher than dental fillings which are mixed and applied chairside. So, while fillings, inlays and onlays can all preserve teeth, they each have particular roles. Either way, our Predent dentists will talk you through your options so you can make a fully informed decision.
If you have tooth cavities, talk to the Predent team about these tried tested and proven methods of preserving teeth.
Alternatively, if you’re fed up with your existing silver amalgam fillings ruining your smile ask us about replacing them with durable composite white versions for a flawless look. It’s an easy way to rejuvenate your smile while maintaining oral health.
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