Dr. Denise Acosta and a team member laughing with a young patient in a treatment room at Broadway Dentistry in Fort Wayne, where fillings and crowns are done

Onlay Restorations in Fort Wayne

Onlay Restorations

An onlay, sometimes called a partial crown, is a custom-made filling of composite, gold or tooth-colored porcelain. It is made by a professional dental laboratory and permanently cemented onto the tooth by your dentist.

When onlays are used

Onlays conservatively repair teeth with large, defective fillings or damage from decay or trauma. They are an ideal alternative to crowns (caps) because less tooth structure is removed. Onlays are essentially identical to inlays, except that they also cover one or more chewing cusps. Like most dental restorations, they may someday need replacing, but they are highly durable and last many years.

Dr. Acosta reviewing a patient chart with her team at Broadway Dentistry, a general dentistry office in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Reasons for onlay restorations

Schedule an Appointment

Broken or fractured teeth
Cosmetic enhancement
Decayed teeth
Fractured fillings
Large fillings

A patient talking with a team member in the chair during a dental exam visit at Broadway Dentistry in Fort Wayne

What getting an onlay involves

An onlay usually takes two appointments. At the first, while the tooth is numb, the dentist removes any decay or old filling, cleans and shapes the tooth, takes highly accurate impressions (molds) and places a temporary filling while the laboratory makes your onlay.

At the second appointment, the onlay is precisely cemented into place and adjusted so your bite is comfortable. You will receive care instructions, and good oral hygiene, a proper diet and regular dental visits help your onlay last.