Metal Inlay, Onlay and Overlay

Inlay is a type of microprosthesis that is applied to severely damaged crowns of chewing teeth when the problem cannot be solved with a simple filling. They are special fillings cast in a laboratory by a dental technician for molars and premolars. They are made by individual casting and are also called cast seals. They are used for healthy roots and destroyed central part of the crown. Their difference from standard fillings is that they stick in a ready, solid state and do not harden in the tooth cavity.

They are placed centrally, inside the crown, and the cavity is well cleaned and shaped by the dentist in the form of a box. Inlay does not affect the tubercles of the tooth and is the least invasive. Inlay is used as a common name for all cast fillings, but if the filling has an outer wall it is called onlay, and if it is placed on a tooth with only one preserved wall and needs to fill the entire space, it is an overlay. Inlays are resistant to subsequent deformations and protect the tooth from secondary caries. They restore the shape of the chewing tooth and evenly distribute the pressure on it, are characterized by exceptional strength and durability.