Inlays and Onlays


Porcelain Inlay and Onlay

Gdental provides dental inlays and onlays in New York, NY. Call 212-486-6622 to learn more and schedule your appointment. 

When tooth structure has extensive decay, but not enough to warrant a full-coverage crown, we turn to inlays and onlays (partial coverage restorations) to restore the integrity of the tooth. Like crowns, partial coverage restorations are fabricated in our dental laboratory and bonded to your tooth. Inlays fit inside the grooves and fissures of a posterior tooth’s biting surface, while onlays cover more of the chewing surface, extending over the cusps. Both are used to restore areas where tooth decay has been removed, and the tooth structure has been compromised.

Partial coverage restorations typically require two appointments, as they are fabricated in our laboratory. During the initial visit, we prepare your tooth and take digital impressions by scanning your dentition with an intraoral scanner. These digital impressions are then transmitted to our onsite laboratory to fabricate your custom restoration. The restorations are made of a pressed ceramic material and are bonded to your tooth at the second visit. These fillings are more natural-looking, resist staining better, are much stronger, and last longer than composite fillings. We recommend these types of restorations for most cases as they are more aesthetic, more durable over time, and preserve tooth structure.

The Advantages of Inlays and Onlays


    • Durability: Inlays and onlays are made from a structurally superior material (ceramic) than composite, which can protect and help retain the remaining portion of your tooth.
    • Aesthetically Pleasing: Partial coverage restorations are made using a pressed ceramic material to best match the existing color of your dentition and feel just like a natural tooth.
    • Conservative: Inlays and onlays are a more conservative option than full coverage crowns. Crowns require a complete preparation of your tooth, but only the decayed portion of a tooth is removed to accommodate a partial coverage restoration.
    • Convenient: Partial coverage restorations can be cleaned like your regular teeth with daily brushing and flossing. In addition, they minimally impact the gingival tissue like a crown does.

Caring for Inlays and Onlays


It’s important that you maintain good oral hygiene habits, with regular dental hygiene visits and brushing for two minutes, twice a day, and flossing at night. Whenever you come to our office for a routine dental exam, we will examine your partial coverage restoration to make sure it’s secure and does not need replacement. Inlays and onlays are a very durable, long-lasting type of dental restoration. Replacement is not as frequent as bonded composite fillings, as most have a lifespan of over 20 years.

Call 212-486-6622 to schedule your appointment.