A lab-made restoration that sits between a filling and a crown, rebuilding strength and bite while keeping more of your own tooth intact.
Far less of the tooth is removed than for a crown.
Porcelain and composite finishes that go unnoticed.
Individually made to take years of chewing.
Laboratory-made for a precise, comfortable fit.
Ask our team whether an inlay or onlay would suit your tooth.
Sometimes a back tooth has lost too much structure for a straightforward filling to hold, yet still has plenty of healthy tooth left, more than enough to make a full crown unnecessary. This is exactly where inlays and onlays come into their own. Made in a laboratory and bonded over the biting surface and cusps, they restore the tooth’s strength, shape and bite while keeping as much of the natural tooth as possible.
An onlay is a precision restoration, made to measure in a dental lab, that fits over the biting surface of a back tooth. Where a crown encases the whole tooth down to the gum, an onlay rebuilds only the portion that genuinely needs it, which is why it is sometimes described as a partial crown. An inlay is the close cousin that sits within the tooth rather than over a cusp.
Inlays and onlays are most often made from one of three materials:
A tooth-coloured option that sits quietly alongside your natural teeth, striking a sensible balance between looks and function.
The best blend of beauty and strength, hard-wearing and lifelike, and our usual choice where the tooth shows when you smile.
The traditional, supremely durable choice, often preferred for molars where sheer longevity matters most.
We will suggest the right material for you, weighing up where the tooth sits, how hard it has to work and how you would like it to look.
An inlay or onlay is often the answer when:
Where a tooth is more severely broken down, a crown is likely the wiser choice, and for a small cavity an everyday filling will do the job. Inlays and onlays neatly fill the gap in between.
The work usually spans two appointments:
1
We remove the damaged part of the tooth, take a digital or conventional impression, and fit a temporary covering to protect it.
2
Your made-to-measure restoration is tried in, checked for fit and bite, then securely bonded in place.
Every Netherton Dental Practice onlay is crafted by a UK dental laboratory, so you get the finest materials and an exact, well-fitting result.
Looked after well and reviewed regularly, an onlay will commonly serve for 10 to 15 years, and gold or premium ceramic often lasts longer still.
High-quality inlays and onlays in ceramic, composite or gold are provided privately, and we will go through every option and the costs with you before any treatment begins.
See our Fees page for current pricing.
Talk to Netherton Dental Practice about rebuilding your tooth while holding on to as much natural structure as we can.
Netherton Dental Practice
The Plain, Long Stratton,
Norwich, NR15 2XG
