What is the difference between a filling and an inlay / onlay?
Filling: a restoration that is placed to replace tooth structure lost due to a small cavity or a small fracture. These tooth colored composite restorations are placed in one visit. Inlay / Onlay: a restoration that is placed when a larger portion of a tooth is missing due to decay or fracture, or a leaking old filling. These restorations are tooth colored. Inlays and onlays are processed by a laboratory under heat and pressure, which makes them very strong and durable, and very resistant to the harsh environment of the mouth and the heavy forces of mastication (chewing). Both composite fillings and resin inlays / onlays are bonded (chemically and mechanically attached) to the tooth. The bonding process helps strengthen and reinforce the natural tooth structure, bringing back up to 75% of its initial strength, rather than weakening it as older restorations have done in the past.
