Dr. F.D. Ramirez, D.D.S

7052 Dublin Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568
Tel: 925-556-9994 | Fax: 556-6710
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Dental Services > Inlays & Onlays

Dental Restorations

A dental restoration is any material that restores a tooth back to full form and function. Most patients think of restorations in terms of regular fillings or crowns.

Fillings

A filling is placed directly on the tooth. It requires support from an adequate amount of tooth structure for retention.

Tooth Veneers

Often an alternative to crowns, veneers are very thin pieces of specially-shaped porcelain or plastic that are glued over the front of your teeth with little or no anesthesia needed. Veneers are the cure for teeth that are severely discolored, chipped, have small holes or pits, misshapen or crooked, or for the correction of unwanted or uneven spaces. Unlike crowns, veneers won't require the dentist to remove much of the tooth itself. Veneers are created from an impression taken at our office. Your custom veneer is then glued directly onto your tooth. Typically costing less than crowns, veneers won't stain, making veneers a very popular solution for many people seeking that perfect smile. Strong and very durable, veneers last from ten to fifteen years, and come in colors that will brighten dark teeth without the worry of them changing color.

Crowns

A crown is made indirectly by an outside laboratory, or onsite by the doctor using the latest CEREC technology. An impression must first be taken. A crown provides complete support for the tooth.

Inlays & Onlays

In some situations, there is not an adequate amount of tooth to properly hold a filling. Additionally, a crown might not be necessary to completely support the tooth. In these cases, inlays and onlays are used.

An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth; an onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.

Onlays
Veneers
Crowns

Other Reasons to Use Inlays and Onlays

• Large direct fillings suffer from some minor shrinkage when they are placed. This shrinkage enhances future breakdown and contributes to sensitivity. Onlays can be used instead of large direct fillings to avoid these problems.
• Inlays can also be done instead of a filling regardless of size if their superior qualities are preferred.

Just as with crowns, inlays and onlays are fabricated in our office and placed at the same appointment. The final restoration has the ideal shape and contact with adjacent teeth and is stronger than any direct restoration material.

Our inlays and onlays are made of tooth-colored porcelain and can be bonded in place with state of the art adhesive dentistry. Studies show that teeth with bonded inlays or onlays have nearly identical strength to the original tooth.

We keep up-to-date with the latest advances in dentistry through continuing education so that we can provide state of the art health care. Breakthroughs in adhesive dentistry and our attention to detail allow us to deliver the highest possible level of care to our patients.

In cases where an inlay or onlay is clearly a better choice than a filling and more conservative than a crown, some insurance companies will only pay their "alternative benefit." They may say "If you can place an inlay or onlay, a filling could have been placed." Therefore, these insurance companies pay only for the cost of the least expensive procedure and your benefit could be diminished to the cost of a silver restoration.

As always, we continue to offer you the best treatment option available and we are proud of attention to detail.

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