If you have a large tooth cavity, your dentist will determine what type of tooth filling is required. If he or she thinks that your tooth structure is too weak and may crack if an ordinary filling is applied, he or she may decide that dental onlay is a better choice of indirect dental restoration.
Two visits are usually all that is needed for the dental onlay procedure; the first visit involves the dentist preparing your tooth to make an impression of it and on the second visit the onlay is fitted. This sleep clinic near Essendon offers dental treatments like onlays and explains the procedure.
The First Visit
During the first visit you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth, the dentist will begin to remove decay from the inside of the tooth. Once your tooth is cleaned, your dentist will take an impression of it using a type of putty material, it will be sent to the dental laboratory. The restoration will be created using the impression of your tooth.
Because the restoration takes about a week before it’s completed, your dentist will fit you with a temporary filling to your tooth – this is to protect it; during this time you will need to be careful about how you floss and what you eat as you do not want to aggravate the area of the tooth.
You may discuss with your dentist what material you would prefer for your final inlay, there are some options available – it can be made from gold, resin or ceramic.
The Second Visit 
After seven to ten days your permanent inlay should be ready to be applied to the inside of your tooth. The temporary onlay will be removed and the permanent one will be checked to ensure that it fits correctly and comfortably before it’s polished and then, it’s finally embedded into your tooth.
The dental onlay procedure is very straight-forward and you will feel the benefits immediately as it will strengthen your tooth and have an attractive finish. Onlays that are made from ceramic, and fitted to the front teeth, can be stained to match the color of the rest of the teeth so it doesn’t look out of place. They also protect the tooth’s sensitive nerve endings from exposure to hot or cold. Dental onlays are easy to keep clean and your dentist will advise you on the best way to keep it clean.
