Onlays and Inlays

Northern Virginia Cosmetic Dentistry Serving Alexandria, Arlington, and Surrounding Areas

When a section of your tooth becomes decayed, but its overall strength and structure is still sound enough to function without a crown, onlays and inlays can be easily applied reinforce the tooth and improve its appearance.

Onlays and inlays are basically the same in that they are small prosthetics used to replace sections of removed tooth. The difference lies in the location of their placement - if the missing piece of tooth is within its cusps, it's referred to as an 'inlay'. If the missing section of tooth covers the entire chewing surface, or is located between one or more of the tooth cusps, it is referred to as an 'onlay'.

The creation and placement of onlays and inlays usually takes two trips to our Virginia office. During your first visit, Dr. Varipapa can examine your tooth and remove the decayed material before taking a cast. Then, between visits, the dental laboratory will custom design and color your onlay or inlay before it is adhered to your tooth.

Washington, DC and Northern Virginia patients are invited to contact our Alexandria, VA advanced dentistry office today for a consultation. We want you to enjoy the confidence of a healthy, beautiful smile!