Dental inlays

Dental inlays consist of a conservative dental restoration, performed where there is extensive damage to the tooth. It is a conservative alternative to treating a tooth and is much more conservative than applying a dental crown.

Inlays are usually placed on posterior teeth that present moderate caries, or fractures, or on endodontic teeth. Adhesion of the inlay to the tooth is always by means of a cement.

Types of dental inlays

Depending on the surface of the affected tooth:

Inlays: They do not affect and therefore do not cover dental cusps.
Onlays: They affect at least one dental cusp.
Overlays: They affect all dental cusps

Depending on the material used:

Resin inlays
Ceramic inlays
Metal inlays

Advantages of inlays

They are much more conservative when preparing them than either caps or crowns, as much more healthy tissues remains/is preserved, which means the tooth is not weakened.
More cosmetic that a reconstruction or filling.
More durable than a reconstruction or filling due to the material used.

Disadvantages of inlays

Greater complexity in their preparation, requiring more complex sculpting, and they must also be subsequently cemented.
They are not prepared while on the patient, but rather are sent to a laboratory where they are made.
The cost is higher.

FAQs about Dental inlays

Do dental inlays hurt?

They don't hurt as they are carried out under local anasthesia.

Why is an inlay better than a filling or a reconstruction?

It's not a case of better or worse, an inlay will be applied wherever the area to be treated is larger.