Makeover Your Smile With Dental Onlays in Huntington Beach, CA
Ready to repair your smile? Schedule a consultation with TLC Family Dentistry at 714-897-8980 today!
It can be challenging to determine the best way to repair a damaged tooth when you have one. Every situation is different, so it’s essential to consult with a dental professional to help you decide.
There are several options for repairing damaged teeth, and the one you use depends on the type of damage and its severity. Fillings and crowns are both used to repair damage to a tooth. Fillings only require removing the decayed area and a small amount around it, while dental crowns require removing a more significant portion of the tooth to ensure the crown affixes onto the tooth.
Dental onlays lie in the middle ground between fillings and crowns. They are similar to partial crowns in that they go over the cusps of a tooth (inlays fill space between points). Onlays do not require removing as much of the healthy tooth as crowns do, so it is a less extreme option for repairing your tooth.
TLC Family Dentistry understands that choosing the right smile restoration procedures can be difficult. Our skilled dental team is ready to help you with that decision, providing the information and advice you need to choose the best course for you.
Want to know what our patients think? Check out our reviews!
The Dental Onlay Procedure
Before any dental onlay procedure begins, your TLC dentist will evaluate your damaged tooth to see if you’re a good candidate. Situations where we recommend an onlay include:
- When the cusp of your tooth is damaged, and you cannot repair it with a filling or an inlay
- When the tooth structure is weakened and may crack if filled
- To avoid removing a large amount of natural tooth, which is required when placing a crown
Two dental appointments are usually required to place an onlay. The first appointment involves preparing the tooth. The dentist will numb the area of your mouth with a local anesthetic. Once it’s ready, the damaged or decayed part of the tooth is removed and cleaned to prepare it for the onlay.
The dentist will take an impression of the tooth. The dentist will then send it over to a laboratory where the laboratory will craft the permanent onlay. Then, a temporary onlay is put into place to protect the tooth until the next visit.
Once the onlay is complete, you come in for the second appointment. The dentist will remove the temporary onlay. After cleaning the tooth again, the restoration will be set into place to check the fit. Then, the onlay is bonded into place and polished to match your other teeth.
Caring For Your Temporary Onlay
Your temporary onlay requires care and attention to prevent any damage to it. While your permanent onlay is in process, your temporary onlay has to protect your tooth and function for you when you eat.
Right after the placement of the temporary onlay, you may feel lingering numbness and dull sensations in your mouth because of the anesthetic. Your dentist will recommend the best things to do to keep your temporary onlay safe, but it is generally advised not to eat anything until you have entirely regained sensation in your mouth. This measure will prevent you from accidentally damaging your onlay or hurting yourself when you can’t feel it.
Tips For Taking Care of Your Temporary Onlay
Once the feeling has returned to your mouth, it is safe to eat with your temporary onlay. It is good to skip food and beverages that are very hot or cold, as extreme temperatures could aggravate the sensitive areas around the onlay.
Very hard or chewy foods, such as ice, nuts, candy, or gum, could crack or pull out the onlay, so avoid those as well.
Do not floss around your temporary onlay, so it does not get damaged or removed. Instead, brush your teeth carefully twice a day, use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill germs, and rinse away debris where the brush cannot reach.
Even with proper care, your temporary onlay can be dislodged or damaged. If this happens, call your TLC dentist’s office right away so that they can fix it quickly.
Learn More About Dental Onlays in Huntington Beach, CA
Dental onlays could be the right choice to repair your decayed or damaged tooth. For more information about our dental onlay procedures or to schedule a consultation, call TLC Family Dentistry today at 714-897-8980.