When a large, defective filling needs to be replaced, porcelain inlays and onlays can be an excellent way to restore the tooth. A porcelain inlay is small and covers the grooves of the teeth. An onlay is larger and covers one or more cusps or corners of a tooth.

Porcelain inlays and onlays have several advantages over other filling materials. When used to replace a silver filling, they will add strength to the tooth. Porcelain is also harder and more durable than white composite fillings. The inlay or onlay will be bonded to your tooth, which creates a resilient, watertight seal. The best part of all is that these restorations can be custom colored to match your own teeth. A porcelain onlay will also be more conservative, saving more natural tooth structure, than a full crown.

Porcelain inlays and onlays are a great way to restore strength to weak teeth. Excellent cosmetics, combined with conservation of tooth structure, make them the treatment of choice for many patients.