Restore Your Smile
Living with broken or damaged teeth can affect your dental health and impact the full functionality of your teeth, making simple tasks like eating, speaking, and smiling a challenge. Not only that, but it can also affect your confidence in your appearance.
Thankfully, at our Jupiter office, Dr. Villalobos offers a restorative solution to your damaged teeth in the form of inlays and onlays. These natural-looking solutions can help restore your healthy smile. Learn more about our restorative solutions and their benefits here.
Inlay & Onlay Restorations
Inlays and onlays, often referred to as partial crowns, are custom-crafted fillings made of composite material, or tooth-colored porcelain. These restorations are popular due to their resemblance to natural teeth. We also offer gold restorations for your convenience. Inlays and onlays are made by a professional dental laboratory and are permanently cemented onto the tooth by Dr. Villalobos.
There’s a slight difference between an inlay and an onlay. An inlay fills the area between your tooth cusps, while an onlay covers the cusps. Neither inlays nor onlays cover your entire tooth like a dental crown; rather, they simply restore the part of your tooth that’s been affected.
Benefits of Inlays & Onlays
These restorations can fix a variety of different dental problems, including:
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Fractured fillings
- Large fillings
- Cosmetic enhancements
Inlays & Onlays Treatment Process
The process of placing inlays and onlays is similar to that of a dental crown. Dr. Villalobos will first administer a local anesthetic to ensure you’re comfortable during the procedure. We also offer sedation dentistry options for you to choose from.
Dr. Villalobos will begin by removing any infected areas of your tooth to prepare your tooth for restoration. Once it’s ready, he’ll take an impression of the area to create the inlay or onlay. You’ll receive a temporary restoration until your customized restoration is ready.
Once your permanent restoration is ready, you’ll return to our Jupiter office for your final fitting. Dr. Villalobos will remove the temporary inlay or onlay and clean your tooth. He’ll then securely attach the inlay or onlay to your tooth, giving you a new, beautiful smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the circumstances of your situation, one may be better suited for you than the other. If you have a large cavity, an inlay or onlay may be the better option for you. But if your cavity is small, a filling would be much less intrusive. Dr. Villalobos will examine your tooth and determine which treatment option will work best for you.
Inlays and onlays can last for 20 to 30 years before needing to be replaced. The longevity of your restoration also depends on where it’s placed inside your mouth. Heavy traffic areas such as your back molars may wear out your restorations quicker than those in the front of your mouth. To ensures the restoration lasts longer, Dr. Villalobos recommends following these instructions:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss daily
- Schedule biannual checkups and dental cleanings with Dr. Villalobos
Most dental insurance will cover a portion of the cost of inlays and onlays. We recommend speaking to your dental insurance provider ahead of time to learn what your plan will cover. If your coverage plan isn’t enough, we also offer flexible financing options so you don’t delay your treatment any longer.
Begin Your Journey To a New Smile
Inlays and onlays can be great options for repairing a variety of dental issues. Dr. Villalobos can use these treatments to restore your smile’s natural beauty and get your oral health back on track. To schedule a consultation, call our Jupiter office at (561) 744-0677 or simply fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.