Inlays & onlays
A stronger, longer-lasting alternative to a large filling.
Inlays and onlays sit between a filling and a crown. They are used on back teeth that have moderate decay or some fracturing, where a filling would not be enough but a crown would take away more tooth than necessary.
Made in the laboratory, fitted precisely
An inlay fills the area between the cusps of a tooth. An onlay goes further and covers one or more of the cusps themselves.
Both are made from resin, porcelain, zirconia or gold, moulded to the exact size and shape of your tooth by a dental technician rather than shaped in the mouth.
Two appointments
At the first, we remove the damaged part of the tooth and shape what remains so the inlay or onlay will hold. An impression is taken and sent to the laboratory.
At the second, it is positioned, cemented into place, then polished and smoothed so it feels like the rest of the tooth.
- Tooth-coloured options available
- More of your own tooth preserved than with a crown
- Stable in shape and size with temperature change
Not sure whether inlays & onlays is right for you?
Book a consultation and we will assess your options honestly. If something simpler is the better answer for your case, we will tell you.
Common questions
Potentially decades. It depends on which tooth it is, the material used, the forces that tooth takes when you chew, and how well the tooth is looked after afterwards.
Very few. Most of what there is relates to the local anaesthetic used to numb the area rather than the inlay itself. An allergy to one of the materials is possible but rare, and we will go through your medical history before treatment.
Other treatments
Hygiene & gum health
Professional cleaning, gum assessment and advice built around how you actually brush.
Learn more
Emergency appointments
In pain? We hold time back each day, and plan members get an emergency appointment included.
Learn more
Porcelain veneers
Thin porcelain facings for a more permanent change to shape, shade and alignment.
Learn more