The difference between these two restorations is in how much area of the tooth is covered, and thereby repaired. To understand the difference, you need to understand how the chewing teeth are shaped. The higher points of the chewing surfaces of your back teeth are called cusps. An inlay covers some of the chewing surface between the cusps. It does not replace any of the cusps.
An onlay covers or replaces one or more cusps. An onlay can actually cover the entire chewing surface of an existing tooth, cusps and all.
Inlays and onlays are manufactured out of durable materials that are highly compatible with your teeth. Metal fillings you may have had in the past would expand and contract when you drank or ate hot or cold foods. This expansion and contraction could cause a deterioration of the tooth tissue under and around the filling. This won’t happen with inlays and onlays.
With every inlay or onlay we provide, we always take the beauty of your smile into consideration. These restorations should blend perfectly with each natural tooth in your smile. They should match the color and shape of other teeth. We are highly quality-conscious with every treatment we perform. We want to not only protect the health of your smile but also its appearance.