A dental onlay is a type of tooth restoration that is used to fill a large area of decay on the top of the tooth. While a dental inlay is molded to fit inside a cavity, an onlay is affixed to the top of the tooth. Unlike an inlay, an onlay can be used for teeth that have experienced decay or damage on the cusps of the tooth. Both inlays and onlays are more substantial than a filling, but are less instrusive than a crown. Dental onlays fit over the biting surface of the tooth and are made of a solid piece of composite, gold, porcelain, or resin.

Your dentist may recommend placement of a dental onlay in certain situations, such as when you have sustained damage to the cusp of a tooth, and a filling or inlay can’t be used. An onlay may be required if you have a cavity in a tooth with a weak structure, which could crack if a regular filling is used to restore the tooth. Onlays may also be used if your dentist determines that much of the tooth structure can be preserved, and restoration does not require the aggressive approach used for a crown.

What to expect from the dental onlay process:

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