Inlays and Onlays in Bay City, TX
You may fear losing a back tooth if you’ve experienced a trauma or have severe decay. Fortunately, our dentist at Dr. Teeth Dental Care is an expert at repairing teeth and can make a tooth as good as new with inlays and onlays in Bay City, TX.
What are an Inlays and Onlays?
When a premolar or molar breaks, severely chips, or decays, it may need a restoration piece to strengthen and support the tooth. An inlay goes within the cusps of premolars, or bicuspids, and molars. A bicuspid has two cusps with a small valley between them. A molar has four cusps or peaks with a valley of enamel between them as well.
Our dentist near you will assess the tooth’s damage to determine what type of procedure they need to do to fix it. If it’s a slight fracture, crack, or minor cavity, then they may be able to cement the tooth or use a filling for it. However, if the damage is severe, then an inlay, which sits within the tooth’s cusps, may be necessary.
An onlay covers part of the damaged tooth or replaces a piece that’s broken off. It goes over the cusps to make the tooth like new again. Unlike a filling or a prosthetic like a crown, inlays and onlays come from a dental laboratory at which our dentist in Bay City, TX will place an order.
Inlay and Onlay Material Options
If our dentist at Dr. Teeth Dental Care recommends inlays or onlays near you for one of your teeth, they are available in various materials. To avoid having others see the restoration piece, you can choose porcelain or composite resin. The dental lab can shade these materials to blend in with the color of your natural teeth.
For people who don’t mind others seeing their dental work, gold is a good option for an inlay or onlay because it is a durable material. Since the pieces go onto the chewing teeth, they need to withstand the chewing forces needed when eating harder or tougher foods, like nuts or meat.
If you break a back tooth due to an accident or dental decay, contact our dentist near you at Dr. Teeth Dental Care. They can repair your tooth with inlays and onlays to save your smile and restore its function.