|
Services
> Esthetic Restorations
> Inlay
Porcelain and Ceramic Inlays
Inlay Dental Restorations in New York City
 Inlays
can be made of porcelain, gold, composite, or ceramic resin.
These pieces are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth.
An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the
cusp tips of the tooth. An onlay is a more substantial reconstruction,
similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of
the cusps of the tooth.
Traditionally,
gold has been the material of choice for inlays. In recent
years, however, porcelain and ceramic have become increasingly
popular due to their strength and color, which can match the
natural color of your teeth with the utmost accuracy.
CEREC
Inlay versus Laboratory Inlay
 |
Conventional
Filling |
|
CEREC
Inlay |
Typically,
in years past, inlays required at least two appointments to complete the procedure.
 During
the first visit, the filling being replaced or the damaged
or decaying area of the tooth was removed, and the tooth was
prepared for the inlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, an
impression of the tooth was made by the dentist, and sent to
a lab for fabrication. These impressions were usually very
messy, and left an unpleasant taste in the patient's mouth.
The dentist would then apply a temporary sealant on the tooth
and schedule the next appointment. Often, this sealant had
the tendency to fall out, leaving a gaping hole in the patient's
mouth until they were able to come in for their next appointment.
At the second appointment, the temporary sealant was removed
and the doctor would then make sure that the inlay fit correctly.
If the fit was satisfactory,
the inlay would be bonded to the tooth and polished; however
if the fit was not correct, it had to be sent back to the lab
and a third visit was necessary. This process continued until
the fit was correct and the inlay could be cemented.
These days
are long gone. With the advent of CEREC 3, the procedure
for making an inlay has become as simple and fast as coming
in for a cleaning. In less than an hour the tooth can be prepared,
milled, fit and cemented, with no additional visits required
and no temporary resins needed. The doctor will first prep
the existing tooth and remove any decay that is found within
the tooth structure. Once removed, an optical image is taken,
and transferred onto the CEREC 3, at which point the inlay
is designed by the doctor. The design is sent to our in-house milling
unit and in about 10 minutes a full inlay is milled and ready
for cementation.
Conventional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural
tooth by up to 50 percent. As an alternative, inlays and onlays,
which are bonded directly onto the tooth using special high-strength
resins, can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up
to 75 percent. As a result, they can last from 15 to 30 years.
The choice is simple, wouldn't you say?
|
