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

Porcelain Inlays in Fort Wayne

Porcelain Inlays

An inlay restoration is a custom-made filling of composite, gold, or tooth-colored porcelain. Porcelain inlays are popular because they resemble your natural tooth; each is made by a dental laboratory and permanently cemented into the tooth by your dentist.

Why choose an inlay

Inlays conservatively repair teeth with large defective fillings or damage from decay or trauma. They are an ideal alternative to silver and composite fillings, and more conservative than crowns because less tooth structure is removed. Like most 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 inlay restorations

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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 inlay involves

An inlay usually takes two appointments. At the first, while the tooth is numb, the dentist removes any decay or old filling material, cleans and shapes the space, takes highly accurate impressions (molds) for your custom inlay, and places a temporary filling to protect the tooth while the lab makes it.

At the second appointment your inlay is precisely cemented into place, with any adjustments needed for a proper fit and a comfortable bite. You’ll receive care instructions; good oral hygiene practices, a proper diet and regular dental visits help your inlay last.