Ouch! You just broke a part of your tooth. What can be done to repair it? A traditional filling is not strong enough to replace such a large amount of tooth structure, but preparing the whole tooth for a crown seems too aggressive. The answer to this dilemma is a conservative inlay or onlay.
Ceramic inlay or onlay restorations are treatment options few patients know exist. An inlay is a ceramic restoration that rests within the tooth. An onlay is a ceramic restoration that rests on the tooth, such as a replacement for a missing or fractured cusp. These restorations are colored to blend in with your tooth, less prone to leaking, stronger than tradition amalgam or composite restorations, and more conservative than traditional crowns.
The procedure is similar to the process of placing a crown because it takes two appointments to complete. At the first appointment, the tooth is prepared for the onlay or inlay, a temporary restoration is placed, and an impression is taken and sent to the lab for fabrication of the permanent restoration. At the second appointment, the temporary is removed and the permanent restoration is cemented into place; leaving you with a tooth that looks and functions just like new!
Lindsten Family Dentistry 