Fillings, Inlays & Onlays
The dentists at our Victoria clinic use a variety of dental restoration techniques to help repair cracked, decayed, fractured or chipped teeth. Common restorations include white composite fillings, and dental inlays and onlays.
Composite Resin (White) Fillings
Composite resin fillings are made from a tooth-coloured plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide).
Our dentists use composite fillings to restore decayed areas of a tooth or to make cosmetic improvements to teeth, helping to improve the appearance of the smile by changing the colour of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.
The more natural appearance of composite resin fillings is the main benefit when compared to traditional amalgam (silver) fillings. Your dentist will blend the colour of the composite material to create a shade which closely matches that of your natural teeth.
Composites can be bonded to a tooth to help support the remaining tooth structure and prevent breakage in the future. These fillings can also help to prevent or soothe tooth sensitivity by insulating the tooth against excessive temperature changes.
Dental Inlays
A dental inlay is larger than a regular filling, and fills the space in between the cusps, or rounded edges, at the centre of the tooth's surface.
Inlays can be made from either composite or porcelain and are strong enough to be placed in the back teeth. Replacing old silver fillings with tooth-coloured inlays can help you regain the natural beauty of your smile.
Dental Onlays
Onlays cover one or more cusps, and in some cases the entire biting surface of a tooth.
Because of their extensive coverage, dental onlays are sometimes referred to as "partial crowns." Onlays are used when a dental crown would be excessive. Dental onlays are more durable, and typically last longer, than a regular dental filling and may last up to 30 years or more.