This option is determined by the amount of tooth structure left after decay or trauma has occurred. Sometimes a plastic filling will not suffice to replace missing tooth structure if there is a concern about tooth strength or contact with an adjacent tooth.
The difference between an inlay and an onlay is that an inlay fills in a tooth and an onlay is placed on, or covering, a tooth. Both are made in a dental laboratory using an impression that we take in the office. Inlays and onlays can be made of plastic or gold. While plastic is more aesthetically pleasing, gold offers the advantages of strength and biocompatability. The choice of plastic or gold is made with our patients on a case-by-case basis.
Before Plastic Inlay
After Plastic Inlay
Before Gold Inlay
After Plastic Inlay
Gold is the oldest and longest lasting material dentistry has to offer. When used for cast inlays and onlays, gold can offer you beautiful aesthetics and a lifetime restoration. Gold offers more compressive and tensile strength than other filling materials. This allows thin bevels of metal to be placed over margins to protect fragile enamel walls. Margins do not chip or erode away. While most filling materials must be protected by the tooth dentin and enamel, cast gold actually protects the remaining tooth structure. The long-term durability of high gold content alloys makes them an excellent value for the patient.
Gold offers more compressive and tensile strength than other filling materials.
Thin bevels of metal can be placed over margins to protect fragile enamel walls. Margins do not chip or erode away.
Actually protects the remaining tooth structure.
Natural tooth contours are more easily reproduced in the laboratory than in the mouth.
As a malleable material, gold can adapt to occlusal pressures much like natural dentition.
Long-term durability of high gold content alloys makes them an excellent value.
When used appropriately, gold is a very aesthetically appealing material. Gold inlays and onlays will not discolor a tooth nor will they decompose or tarnish. Properly completed preparations eliminate unwanted metal display. Natural tooth contours are more easily reproduced in the laboratory than in the mouth where access is always a consideration. The very smooth finished surfaces are comfortable for the patient and do not readily harbor plaque.
Many other restorative materials are harder than gold and may cause abrasion damage to opposing dentition. Gold’s wear resistance is compatible with opposing teeth. As a malleable material, gold can adapt to occlusal pressures much like natural dentition. A cast gold inlay or onlay also provides fine, smooth margins that resist micro leakage, significantly reducing secondary decay.
Concept™ is an indirect resin restorative system for esthetic inlay and onlays. Concept™ is a highly filled microfil composite which is heat and pressure polymerized extraorally under 85 psi pressure and at temperatures of 250 F (121 C). The result is a homogeneous inlay/onlay with superior aesthetics and excellent resistance to wear.
Due to its unique heat and pressure polymerization, Concept™ undergoes maximum polymerization and eliminates inherent porosity. Concept™ will not abrade opposing dentition, is highly radiopaque, and releases fluoride.
Concept™ is available in a variety of dentin and enamel shades to meet all aesthetic demands and is bonded to tooth structure utilizing the latest generation of recommended luting systems.
The Concept™ Difference
Concept’s™ long-term clinical success, composition and method of polymerization make it unique from all other restoratives on the market.
Concept™ is the only indirect resin that has a decade of clinical success and has been evaluated head-to-head against conventional restorative treatments in university clinical studies.
Concept™ is the only homogenous microfil inlay and onlay material. This provides the smoothest restoration possible and proven superior wear resistance. Other patented fillers in Concept™ provide high radiopacity and fluoride release.
Concept™ is the only indirect resin restorative polymerized under heat and pressure. All other indirect resins are simply cured with light or a combination of light and heat or vacuum. As can be seen from the micrographs below, conventional light-cured materials “lock-in” porosity while Concept™’s polymerization process applies pressure prior to polymerization which results in a completely dense and porosity free restoration.
(The above information has been reprinted from Ivoclar North America)
We recommend to each parent that, when their children reach the age of three, they bring them along to our office during their own regular hygiene visit. In that way, they can see it is fun to go to the dentist! These early visits also teach your child to take responsibility for his or her own dental health and can allay concerns that might otherwise arise.
At Dr. Moore’s dental office we address basic children’s dental issues such as cleanings and.sealants. When a referral is deemed necessary, we refer to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentistry is a recognized dental specialty and these specialists have been specifically trained to address the psychological and clinical needs of children’s dental care. The child has reduced trauma from a dental experience, and the work is done by a clinician specially trained in children’s dental issues. At Dr. Moore’s we believe that a dentist best trained in an area of dentistry should treat that area. We have a few pediatric dentists that have been part of our referral team for years. If we deem it necessary a referral will be arranged.