Conservative treatments to the rescue! How inlays and onlays restore damaged teeth to health

True to our name, Simply Wellness Dental is committed to supporting the wellness of your smile and the rest of you. Your friendly neighbourhood dentists in East Vancouver, British Columbia, often accomplish this through conservative dentistry. Dental inlays and onlays present a valuable type of conservative dentistry offered by our dentists, Drs Adi Nokiani, Ashleigh Sran, and Eric Quan. 

The idea behind inlays, onlays, and other so-called “conservative” treatments is to preserve as much of the natural tooth structure and tissue as possible – and as long as it remains healthy. 

Inlays and onlays are a tissue-preserving alternative to “full-coverage” dental crowns that cover or go on top of the remaining tooth structure. By recommending such approaches, our team also:

• Only alters the tissue that is “too far gone” and cannot be repaired through other means 
• Replicates the natural look and feel of the tooth by preserving a maximal amount of tissue
• Supports the strongest bond between the dental material and the natural tooth 
• Allows for the lasting durability, health, and function of the treated tooth (due to its incomparable strength)

A dental inlay differs from a dental onlay because it generally repairs more modest damage to the tooth. The dental material, usually a composite resin or ceramic, is prepared so that its colour and other characteristics can blend in with the rest of the tooth and its neighbouring teeth in the smile. The material is shaped and applied to “fill in” and build up the damaged portions of the tooth. It is secured within the chewing surface of a tooth with a large cavity. It may also be well-suited to patients with old or worn fillings that need replacement. 

Now, whereas inlays rebuild the damaged areas on the chewing surface or between the cusps or tips of the tooth, onlays are applied to repair more extensive damage on the surface and to at least one cusp or point of the tooth. They are more conservative than full dental crowns that cover the entire visible white part of the tooth. They are sometimes called “partial crowns” as they are less conservative than inlays.Simply Wellness Dental believes in restoring teeth to their healthy structure, function, and appearance in the most natural and least invasive or aggressive way possible. To learn more about your options, call our East Vancouver, BC office today at (604) 229-5922. Better yet, don’t wait for potential problems to strike. If you are due for a check-up, schedule one right away. Why treat, after all, when you can prevent and protect?!