Restorative dentistry

An inlay or onlay is a filling made outside your mouth, usually in a dental lab, and then bonded into the tooth. An inlay fits inside the grooves of a back tooth. An onlay also covers one or more cusps (the raised points on the chewing surface). Most are made of porcelain, composite (tooth-colored filling material), or gold.

They’re a middle option for a tooth with a cavity or crack too large for a regular filling, but with enough healthy tooth left that a crown isn’t needed. Because less of the tooth is shaped away than for a crown, more of your natural tooth stays.

Placing one usually takes two visits. First, your dentist numbs the tooth, removes the decay or old filling, takes an impression, and places a temporary filling. At the second visit, the inlay or onlay is checked for fit and bonded in place.

Dentures can crack, chip, or lose a tooth, especially if they’re dropped. Many repairs can be made without a new denture. Don’t try to glue a denture yourself: household glues can damage it and aren’t safe in your mouth.

A reline is different. After teeth are lost, the gums and bone under a denture slowly shrink, and the denture loosens. A reline adds new material to the inside of the denture so it fits your gums again. A soft reline uses a cushioned material for tender gums, and a hard reline lasts longer.

You may need a reline if your denture slips, rubs, or causes sore spots, or if you’re using more adhesive than you used to. Some relines are done at one visit, while others go to a dental lab, which takes longer. Your dentist checks the fit at your regular visits and will tell you whether a reline, a repair, or a new denture makes the most sense.