You have a cavity. As a child, perhaps you had metal fillings. Now you lean towards attractive ceramic ones. Our practice of dentistry for the Melbourne area has taught us that few people realize there’s a pleasing third option available: inlays or onlays.
While traditional fillings serve their purpose in repairing a cavity-damaged tooth, to perform this procedure effectively a percentage of the tooth must be removed which reduces the strength of the tooth by up to 50 percent. On the other hand, repairing a cavity with inlays or onlays requires removal of less of the tooth, and using special high-strength resins, the “filling” can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent!
What’s involved in getting an inlay or onlay? After removing the damaged part of your tooth, a gum mold will allow the in-house laboratory to construct an exact fit for an inlay or onlay. This will be matched to your natural tooth color. Using special technology, the tooth-to-restoration margin will be finished and polished to such a super-fine degree that recurrent decay will be all but impossible thereafter, providing proper hygiene is implemented.
Inlay or onlay fillings frequently outlast the more traditional fillings, retaining their high-level of function for 10 to 30 years. This means fewer visits to the dentist chair.
Consult Dr. Bagwell today to see how his dentistry practice for Melbourne area residents will benefit you!
