A restoration made indirectly, i.e. outside the mouth, and then inserted into the treated tooth. It is an intracoronal restoration.
Inlays are part of restorative dentistry. An inlay is a type of permanent filling made outside the mouth from a model created, for example, by 3D scanning or by taking impressions of the teeth. The inlay can then be made using CEREC technology, i.e. from milled ceramic. However, other materials also exist, such as pressed ceramic, light-cured composite materials or precious metals (gold, gold-platinum alloy).
These are made by dental technicians from a model after impressions of the teeth have been taken, so at least two visits are needed. With CEREC technology, a single visit is enough.
The finished inlay is inserted into the prepared cavity of the “diseased” treated tooth, where it is fixed with cement.
Inlays are most often made of ceramic, which has a long lifespan, fits well and is indistinguishable from your own teeth. It also does not cause allergies. An inlay therefore replaces part of the tooth, and the tooth is fully reconstructed. Compared with crowns, it is gentler, as it does not require major intervention on the tooth, i.e. the grinding and drilling needed when fitting a crown.
