Save Your Health With Dental Onlay And Inlay Technology
Feb 21st, 2012 by admin
Dental inlays and onlays are part of the leading edge in dentistry that has over 20 years of research behind it. You can now forget about those old amalgam or composite fillings that some dentists still use. Part of the reason that the onlay/inlay process is not utilized is due to the cost that insurance companies are unwilling to pay for this service, citing it as being cosmetic. Another reason for opting for amalgam or composite is the price associated with this procedure. One consideration for the inlay process is that the old amalgam and composite materials last a short period considering that the inlay/onlay process last 15+ years.
Many patients are choosing the CAD/Cam treatment plan because of the controversy over amalgam filling material containing mercury. It is suspected in cases of chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, oral lesions, birth defects and even mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. It is also suspected that the composite material used in filling a tooth is made of a resin composite, which now has patients concerned about the risks associated with this type of plastic known as Bisphenol A.
The inlay/onlay process involves the use of a Cered 3D CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing) technology, which is composed of camera, computer and milling machine all in one instrument. The optical image is transferred to another computer screen where the dentist designs the restoration process using the CAD technology. The CAM creates the restoration automatically. With the patient waiting for the restoration to be completed, the dentist then bonds the newly restored surface to the patient’s existing tooth. This entire process is usually completed in about an hour.
The inlay/onlay used today makes it impossible to see the difference between the natural teeth and the inlay/onlay restoration. Other benefits to the inlay/only process is the durability of the tooth, oftentimes upward of 100% strength of the tooth, high quality esthetics, composed of metal-free material that acts just like natural tooth enamel and offers color matching so as to blend in with the natural teeth.
