Bonding, Inlays and Onlays

Teeth Bonding

Teeth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that restores chipped, cracked, discolored or gapped teeth. Our office uses resin-based materials that match the shade and texture of your natural teeth using a shade guide. The end result is an improved smile that looks completely natural as if no treatment were performed.  

Preparation for this procedure is short, and anesthesia is not necessary. During the procedure, a dentist will roughen the surface of your tooth with a conditioning liquid. This helps ensure the bonding material adheres to your tooth. The resin that has been matched to your natural tooth color is then applied, molded, and smoothed to reach the desired shape. Once hardened with a special light, the dentist makes final adjustments to trim and shape the tooth, then polishes it so that there is no visible difference between the bonded tooth and the rest of your teeth. The entire process will only take up to an hour to complete. 

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays are a restorative method used to repair teeth that have sustained harm from injury or decay that has not impacted the cusp of the tooth, which is the pointed or rounded projection on the chewing surface of your teeth. Onlays restore teeth that have endured severe damage to the cusps of a tooth.

We can also leave the cusps intact while restoring the surrounding form when the tooth’s cusps are free from extensive deterioration. Inlays are pre-molded to fit the grooves of a tooth and do not extend over the cusps of your teeth. Prior to your in-office procedure, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send it to a laboratory so that a mold can be created. A local anesthetic is used for the procedure, during which a dentist drills the tooth to remove and clean out any decay. The inlay, made of porcelain or composite resin that matches your natural tooth color is then placed, providing a virtually invisible restoration while repairing the chewing surface. Dental inlays are typically more durable than traditional fillings and can last a long time with proper care. 

Onlays are utilized when multiple cusps are eroded or fractured, but other cusps are still strong. An onlay can cover single or multiple cusps while retaining some of the tooth above the gumline. They offer the benefit of strengthening your teeth while also providing a desirable aesthetic finish. Onlays are effective restorations for front teeth in particular because they can be shaded to match all surrounding teeth. 

Only two visits to our office are necessary: one for preparation to obtain the mold and one for placement. Onlays are also very strong and durable, lasting for many years with proper care.