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Aesthetic Restorations

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Restorative Dentistry:
Porcelain & Ceramic Inlays

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 cosmetic 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?

Please contact our Manhattan Restorative Dentistry office for a CEREC Porcelain Inlay consultation with New York City Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Iott. You can meet with our restorative dentistry staff who can answer your restorative dentistry questions as well as explain our other restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry procedures.