When Is a Dental Inlay the Best Option?

Dental care is one of the most important tasks of your day-to-day life. While teeth help you to chew your food, they also give your face a structure. Failing in taking care of one’s teeth leads to decaying which can be painful and further leads to fillings, crowns, or inlays.

Your dentist will provide you with numerous options for tooth restoration which we generally refer to as “dental fillings“. However, there are few other types of tooth restoration available, one of which is dental inlays.

What is a dental inlay?

A dental inlay is a type of filling that is pre-molded and precisely formed in the size of your cavity space. An inlay is preferred to strengthen the tooth structure by securing within the cusps or bonding within the center of the tooth, unlike fillings that might weaken it. 

Among a variety of options that includes fillings, dental inlays, dental onlays, and crowns, let’s discuss over points on when to choose a dental inlay.

When Is a Dental Inlay the Best Option?

There is always a chance of tooth decay occurring even if you keep a meticulous oral health routine. A dental inlay is recommended by your dentist :

• If you have a tooth broken, fractured, or decayed that needs more attention than a traditional filling but is not severe enough to need a crown.
• If the injury level or decayed part of the tooth does not affect the cusps of your tooth.

Dental inlay procedure

• To ensure your comfort, the dentist will numb you with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins.
• Special dental instruments will be used to remove the damaged or decayed parts of your tooth.
• Then the dentist will require a tooth impression which they create by positioning the dental putty over your prepared tooth. Until the inlay fabrication gets prepared by the lab, your dentist will provide you with a temporary filling. 
• The next appointment will lead you to the final stage of the dental inlay process, thus the permanent solution to your tooth restoration placement.

Post-procedure dental care

• Post dental inlay procedure will require one to steer clear of hot and cold beverages as well as sticky foods.
• One may feel soreness or numbness after the procedure which can be indulged with soft, lucid, and basic nourishment that will give you some time off for your tooth to rest.
• Once the numbness subsides you can go back to your regular dental routine.

This course of action will make sure that you savour your dental inlay for many years. Having said that, an inlay covers you for a minimum of 5 years or could last up to 20 years. Regardless of the various restorative procedures, oral health care is the most important step towards the prevention of bacteria. If the inlay procedure has been recommended to you then it’s suggested keeping the best interest of your teeth. However one should explore other options as well with the dental professional which would minimize the risk of weakening the tooth structure and thus maintaining a healthy smile on your face.