Dental Inlay in Atlanta, Georgia (GA)

There are types of tooth decay and diseases where the normal process of fitting a filling or crown may actually cause more harm than good. It is in these situations that inlays may be an option because they require very little of the tooth to be removed. An inlay is a manufactured piece of material that is attached to a tooth in order to repair damage or correct its appearance. An inlay is distinct from an onlay in that it is placed on the top of tooth, while an onlay covers the edges and sides. Placing an inlay on a tooth is a two stage process. First, the tooth is prepared. The dentist will remove parts of the tooth that are damaged and possibly reshape the tooth so it can accept the inlay cleanly. A root canal may be performed if the area being worked on is too close to the nerve. A mold is taken of the tooth and sent to a manufacturer so that the inlay can be produced. After this, the inlay is attached to the tooth with dental cement. An inlay can be made from porcelain which will give it a natural and almost invisible appearance in the mouth. It can also be made from amalgam metals which are highly durable, but clearly noticeable. Finally, composite resins can be used which remove the requirement for an outside laboratory to construct the piece. Resins, however, are not quite as resilient as the other options and are prone to staining. The inlay procedure produces very little pain and requires no downtime after completion. Dental inlays have a very long lifespan, sometime over thirty years. Good hygiene and regular checkups with help to extend this number.