Tooth-coloured restorations

An inlay is a porcelain restoration that does not cover any of the tooth cusps (or tips) on a tooth. Inlays are preferable to regular fillings because they are much stronger and also have a stronger bond to the remaining natural tooth structure. They also last longer, which means over a lifetime the tooth will be restored fewer times, which preserves more healthy tooth structure.

An onlay is a porcelain restoration that covers one or more of the tooth cusps (or tips) on a tooth. If a tooth already has a large restoration, cracks, or a broken cusp, it may need to have one or more of the cusps replaced with an onlay for strength. This technique is also designed to save as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

A crown is a porcelain restoration that covers the entire tooth, right up to the gum line. A crown can be placed with a dental implant, or for a tooth that has had root canal treatment. The crown provides a solid structure to the tooth, ensuring it can withstand the bite forces in the mouth while also looking like a real tooth. A crown can be designed to match the shape, colour and size of the surrounding teeth.

If you have a small cavity or chip on a tooth, it can be repaired with a white filling material known as composite. This material is not as strong as porcelain, but it can be suitable for repairing small lesions behind or between front teeth. Composite blends very well with the tooth colour and can be shaped to create a restoration that looks like the rest of your teeth.   

It is also successfully used for children in baby teeth that will eventually be replaced by adult teeth.