Your Trusted Emergency Dentist in Irving, TX
Inlays & Onlays
HOME | RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY | Inlays & Onlays
RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
Inlays & Onlays
Inlays and Onlays are used to repair damage to a tooth’s biting surface (or cusp) with a type of filling that is less invasive than a crown.
What Are Inlays and Onlays?
Though traditional dental fillings are a great option for patients with minor tooth decay, what are the options for restoring a tooth with significant damage? Inlays and onlays, also known as indirect fillings, are a wonderful option of restoring a tooth with significant decay; they preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure compared to a crown, and compared to a large filling they can actually strengthen the tooth!
​
Large fillings will actually weaken a tooth’s structure, greatly increasing the risk of the tooth breaking, cracking, and eventually requiring extensive restorative treatment such as root canal therapy. And if a good amount of healthy tooth structure is still intact, a crown would needlessly require a large amount of the tooth to be removed.
​
What is the difference between inlays and onlays? Simply put, inlays fit “in” the tooth while onlays fit “on” the tooth; inlays fill the space in between a tooth’s cusps (biting surfaces), while onlays, required for more extensively damaged teeth, spread over the cusps or the entire biting surface of the tooth.
The Procedure
Unlike traditional fillings which are placed in one visit, inlays and onlays typically require two visits. During the first visit, our doctors will take an impression of the tooth, which will be sent to a dental lab to create the inlay or onlay, and a temporary filling material will be placed on the tooth. During the second visit, the temporary filling will be removed and the custom-made indirect filling will be cemented into place, resulting in a strong, stable and natural-looking restored tooth.
When a tooth suffers decay or structural damage that is too extensive for a standard cavity filling but does not require a full dental crown, custom dental inlays and onlays offer the ideal conservative restoration. Located at 209 S O'Connor Rd #101 in Irving, TX (75060), Weekend Emergency Dental provides high-precision porcelain and composite inlays (which fit within the bumps or cusps of a tooth) and onlays (which extend over one or more cusps) crafted by experienced practitioners Dr. Kwon and Dr. Choi. Operating on both Saturdays and Sundays, our modern facility allows you to restore tooth strength, preserve healthy natural tooth structure, and prevent further decay without taking time off work during the week.
​
As an independent fee-for-service practice, Dr. Kwon and Dr. Choi focus on precision-molded, tooth-colored restorations crafted from durable ceramic materials, unhindered by insurance network restrictions or treatment delays. While we do not contract directly with PPO insurance networks, our office team supplies detailed, itemized superbills that you can submit to your insurance carrier for potential out-of-network reimbursement. To keep custom inlays and onlays budget-friendly for patients across Irving, Las Colinas, Arlington, West Dallas, and Grand Prairie, we offer flexible pay-over-time financing options through four trusted lenders: Cherry, Sunbit, CareCredit, and Alphaeon.
​
Custom inlays and onlays are bonded directly to the tooth, strengthening its structural integrity while seamlessly matching your natural enamel color. Whether you need an urgent repair for a fractured molar or want to replace old metal fillings with durable porcelain partial crowns, Dr. Kwon and Dr. Choi deliver gentle, high-quality care. You can also pair your visit with our exclusive Emergency Patient Visit Special for complete weekend diagnostic exams and digital imaging. Protect and preserve your natural teeth today by calling 972-457-0159 or visiting our Irving clinic during weekend operating hours.