Dental Inlays: How to Improve Your Smile

If tooth damage has made your smile less than it used to be, dental inlays might be the solution. Inlays are used to repair teeth that have been damaged due to fractures, decay and other issues. Learn more about inlays to see if this dental treatment is the right choice for improving your smile.

Guide to dental inlays

Many people think they have to get a crown or a filling if they have a damaged tooth, but inlays are often the right choice. Dentists bond inlays to the center of the tooth to fix current damage and prevent additional issues from occurring.

Dealing with damage

When people have a minor cavity, the dentist can fix it with a dental filling. However, people often wait to go to the dentist until the damage is moderate or severe. Untreated decay weakens the tooth, making the patient a bad candidate for a dental filling.

Fillings are made of composite materials that do not provide strength. If the tooth’s structure has been weakened, it can split, fall apart or completely fall out after receiving a filling. This is harmful to a person’s smile. Inlays fit snuggly inside of the tooth, providing additional support. Properly constructed and fitted inlays can make teeth 75 percent stronger.

Natural-looking restoration

Inlays can be made of composite resin, gold or porcelain. Dentists often recommend porcelain because the material is strong and durable and looks like natural teeth. Patients who get porcelain inlays can improve their smile in a natural way.

Getting inlays

Patients need to commit to two dental visits to get inlays. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth for the restoration and takes impressions. The impressions are sent to a lab that will create the inlay.

Because the decay has been scraped away, nerves are exposed on the prepared tooth. The dentist places a temporary inlay on the center of the tooth. Patients should be careful with the temporary inlay, so it does not fall out. It is wise to avoid eating on this side until the permanent inlay is placed.

During the second visit, the dentist removes the temporary inlay and places the permanent one. The dentist polishes the inlay and the surrounding surfaces so that the inlay blends in nicely. The dentist also checks the bite to ensure that it has the proper fit.

Benefits of inlays

Dentists often recommend inlays because of their strength and durability. The inlays make it easier for people to chew, and they do not expand or contract like dental fillings. Inlays match the natural teeth, improving the smile. Also, it is difficult for bacteria to penetrate an inlay, preventing the need for additional dental procedures. Inlays are also made to last. Some people keep their inlays for up to 30 years.

Are you a good candidate for dental inlays?

If you have damaged teeth, visit the dentist to see if inlays are the right solution. Inlays strengthen the damaged tooth and provide long-lasting, natural results. You will need to schedule two appointments to get inlays. But once placed, inlays will look and feel like natural teeth.

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