If you have a cavity, you may wonder which repair is right. Fillings, inlays and onlays all restore damaged teeth, but each has its place.
Dental Fillings
Almost everyone gets a cavity at some point, and a filling caught early restores the tooth’s health and function. We use tooth-colored composite resin that blends in with your smile.
Early composites suited small to mid-sized cavities in teeth under moderate chewing pressure. Today’s materials are strong enough for any tooth, molars included. But what if the damage is too big for a filling and not big enough for a crown? That is where inlays and onlays come in.
Inlays and Onlays
Also called partial crowns, inlays and onlays repair the chewing surfaces of back teeth with serious decay, fractures or failing fillings. An inlay bonds into the chewing surface like a filling; an onlay also covers one or more damaged cusps. Both preserve more natural tooth than a crown.
They come in composite resin, gold or porcelain. Composite is gentle on opposing teeth but can stain and wear. Gold is strong but less natural-looking. Porcelain is often the favorite for its strength and close color match, and with good care it can last for decades.
Fillings, Inlays and Onlays in Whitesboro, TX
Call (903) 564-3451 or contact us to schedule a visit or book online.