Inlays/Onlays
Dental inlays or onlays refer to porcelain/ precious metal fillings that are used to close up the gap created by a decayed tooth that has just been treated. When a tooth decays, the dentist removes the affected area, treats and cleans the tooth. The resultant cavity that is created needs to be filled.
This is where dental inlays or onlays come into play. The porcelain filling is specially made to order in a laboratory, and are then bonded to the tooth in question. The advantage of this filling is that it matches the colour of the tooth, does not stain, covers most of the tooth, and looks and feels completely natural.
Other options for fillings are gold and composite resin, but porcelain inlays are the most popular ones used today.