What is Inley Filling? What is Onley Filling?

With the development of technology, there have been great leaps in oral and dental treatments. Thanks to procedures such as aesthetic smile design and special tooth designs, it has become quite simple to achieve a beautiful appearance. In addition to aesthetic procedures, great changes have been made in filling applications. Now, the procedures of cleaning the decays and filling the cavities with classical fillings have started to be shelved. Instead, Inley and Onley filling procedures prepared individually have become popular.
After the decay has been removed, the resulting cavity can sometimes be too large for conventional fillings to fill. However, the teeth may also be undamaged enough to resort to veneers. This is exactly where Inlay and Onlay fillings come into play. In this treatment method, fillings made of full ceramic material are used. These fillings are specially designed for the dimensions of the cavity and the natural tooth color of the person. For this reason, it exhibits a more aesthetic appearance compared to classical fillings.
Inley and Onlay filling lifetime varies from person to person. In particular, the life of the filling varies depending on oral care, regular dentist control and the condition of the filled tooth. But on average, it can be said that it has a lifespan of 10 years. Of course, it is completely in the hands of the patient to extend or shorten this period.

Difference Between Inley Filling and Onlay Filling
Although both fillings are frequently preferred thanks to their advantages, there are some differences between them. Inley filling is preferred in cases of tissue loss where the tooth is not in the crowns. In fact, the gap that occurs after the decay is cleaned can be closed with the help of classical fillings. However, Inlay filling is preferred because of the advantages it offers. Onlay filling is used in decays occurring in the upper parts of the tooth. In this respect, it is similar to a crown. They are used in the treatment of one or more tooth mounds. They are usually large in size. In other words, although both filling types are prepared individually, the location of the area and the size of the decay are the main reason for the difference between them.

How Are Inlay and Onlay Filling Done?
The Inlay and Onlay filling process is similar to crown treatment, but the main difference between them is that there is no need for shaping in these filling procedures. The main goal here is to make functional teeth compatible with the natural tooth structure. The first step of the procedure is to anesthetize the decayed area and to remove the decay with canal treatment. After this process, a mold of the resulting cavity is taken by digital modeling or paste. A suitable filling is prepared in the laboratory in line with the mold. A temporary filling is applied to the area until the design is completed. When the process is completed, the prepared filling is placed in place and the process is completed. These fillings do not require special care and can be used for a long time with regular oral care.