Unraveling the Mystery Behind Porcelain Inlays

Dental caries can be debilitating since it may leave you with a compromised tooth structure and function. This is a prevailing dental problem around the globe that needs prompt treatment. Porcelain inlays are popular restorative procedures that can restore a severely decayed tooth involving a large area of your tooth structure. 

The dentist in Kensington, CA, is a highly skilled and experienced professional who specializes in porcelain inlays. These restorations are successfully customized to match your natural tooth shade.

Porcelain inlays are popular restorations 

A dental inlay refers to a filling that usually consists of gold, porcelain, or resin that is used to treat a tooth cavity. An inlay is larger than a regular filling but smaller than a crown. Unlike regular fillings, the cavity is not restored directly inside the mouth. Porcelain inlays are a tooth-colored, aesthetic restoration that is fabricated indirectly. Dentists use a model fabricated from oral impressions to design an appropriate inlay restoration. 

Application of porcelain inlays in dentistry

Porcelain inlays find their application in the following situations in dentistry: 

  • Broken or fractured teeth, sparing the teeth cusps 
  • Large cavities that cannot be restored by regular fillings
  • Cosmetic rejuvenation of the tooth
  • Fractured or cracked restorations 

The procedure of getting porcelain inlays 

Porcelain inlays are fabricated outside the mouth, indirectly following the below-given procedure: 

During the first appointment

  • Your dentist will evaluate the affected tooth and remove the decayed and infected tissue. 
  • The tooth will be prepared accordingly to ensure the inlay fits the tooth snugly
  • Multiple accurate impressions of the prepared tooth will be recorded and sent to the lab.
  • To protect your prepared tooth from sensitivity, your dentist will provide a temporary filling.

During the second appointment 

  • After about a week, your new inlay will be precisely cemented into your tooth
  • Necessary adjustments will be made by your dentist so that the inlay fits the tooth well and your bite is comfortable.

Potential benefits of a porcelain inlay

Porcelain inlays are popular since they offer the below-mentioned merits:

  • Aesthetically superior since they blend with the natural tooth easily
  • Offer stain resistance
  • Save you from extensive dental procedures like root canal therapy and crowns
  • Preserve most of the natural tooth structure
  • Provides additional strength to your teeth to withstand the masticatory forces and pressure 
  • Are cost-effective 
  • Are durable and long-lasting with proper oral care
  • Effectively restore a failed dental filling 

Summary 

Porcelain inlays are valuable restorative procedures since they offer a series of dental benefits. Investing in such restorations can go a long way in reviving your damaged teeth.