Question:
What is the difference between a filling and an inlay/onlay?
Answer:
A filling serves to rebuild the tooth. It is most often done right away at the dental clinic, usually with a plastic material. If the defect of the tooth is so severe that the dentist does not believe the plastic material to be strong enough to ascertain a satisfactory durability, an inlay or onlay will be better suited. These are made from plastic, gold, or porcelain, depending on the patient's requirements for durability and aesthetics. The inlays/onlays are usually made outside the clinic. The clinic purchases the inlays/onlays as a finished product, and due to this, the price is slightly higher than with a "direct filling".