Thursday, October 18, 2018

Inlays and Onlays

wear3.jpgWe’re proud to have restored hundreds of patients’ teeth at Elite Dental Arts in Midtown. Although we provide everything from implants to dentures, sometimes, all that’s needed is a partial crown. Those situations usually occur when enough of a tooth is damaged to necessitate something larger than a filling, but there’s still usable crown material.


The molars and premolars have multiple pointy bits, called cusps, separated by indentations. When the indentations are not sealed, they can easily become a trap for food, leading to decay. Once the decay has been drilled away, there may be a significant area in need of restoration. If a partial crown is called for, we’ll make an impression of the mouth that the prosthesis will be designed from. The patient will wear an artificial crown in the meantime. Once the prosthesis is complete, they will return for a follow-up appointment at which time it will be cemented in.


When a partial crown can be placed into an indentation, it is called an inlay. When it also covers at least one of the cusps, it is called an onlay. Inlays and onlays need to be brushed just like normal teeth or else decay will resume, but when properly cared for they can last for over a decade. Since our office heavily emphasizes aesthetics, the partial crowns we use will match the color of the patient’s teeth.


Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017


 

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