Face 
Dentistry 
When you need a filling, there are usually plenty of options open to you. However, if you want a natural-looking, strong option that can also be used to improve the appearance of your smile, you should ask your dentist about inlays and onlays.
What are inlays and onlays?
Sometimes known as “indirect fillings” both inlays and onlays can be used to treat decayed or badly damaged teeth where traditional filling materials may not be a viable choice. Unlike composite or amalgam, inlays and onlays are solid pieces of material that are attached to your tooth. You can choose to follow a natural-looking approach and opt for porcelain or ceramic inlays and onlays. Or, you can have them in precious metals such as gold – it all depends what you want your smile to look like, but your dentist will also advise which materials might be best for your situation! In some cases, an inlay/onlay may be made out of composite – the same tooth-coloured material that you would have for a standard filling.
The difference between inlays and onlays is the amount of the tooth they cover. Inlays are placed within the cavity on the tooth, while an onlay will replace the cusps (tips) of your tooth.
What are the advantages?
Inlays and onlays are a versatile option that come with many benefits. They both provide additional strength compared to very large fillings for the affected tooth following treatment, meaning that they will likely be able to restore biting and chewing forces once again.
They’re also usually a longer-lasting option than traditional fillings, especially when properly maintained. Another great benefit is that inlays and onlays can help to boost your smile aesthetics. If you opt for a porcelain or ceramic material, this will be specifically created to blend in with your natural tooth colour.
Plus, compared to crowns, placement of inlays and onlays require less of your natural tooth to be removed, making them a perfect choice for people keen to retain as much of their original tooth structure as possible.
How long do inlays and onlays take?
Dental inlays/onlays usually require two appointments to place. The first appointment will involve your dentist assessing your mouth and taking a dental impression. This impression will then be sent to a dental laboratory who will create your dental inlay/onlay to perfectly fit onto your tooth. This will then be placed in your second appointment, with the inlay/onlay secured into place using a dental resin or cement.
If you opt for a composite inlay/onlay, this can sometimes be created in your dental practice by your dentist and may only take a single appointment. However, it’s worth remembering that composite inlays/onlays won’t necessarily offer the same strength benefits as those made from porcelain and precious metals.
Ask your dentist to find out more!
Dental inlays/onlays are just one of the many restorative dental options you can choose to protect and improve your smile. Our dentists are members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) which means that they are fully trained to deliver only the highest standard of treatment. So, if you want to explore the options available to you, please contact our team today!
You might notice a familiar face missing from Evolve for a little while… 💚
Carol is heading to Zambia with SmileStar, a dental charity providing free dental care to communities with limited access to treatment.
In this video, Carol shares a little more about where she’s going, what she’ll be doing while she’s there and why she wanted to be part of the trip.
It’s going to be a very different couple of weeks away from the practice, and we’re incredibly proud to see Carol giving her time and skills to support SmileStar’s work.
We’ll be sharing a little more from her trip when we can, but for now, we’ll let Carol tell you all about it in her own words. 💚
Safe travels, Carol. We can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re home!
#EvolveDentistry #SmileStar #Zambia #Dentistry #Portishead
🍰 Come and join us today! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!
We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome
Come hungry! 😋
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
🍰☕ Today’s the day - and there’s cake! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is happening TODAY at Evolve Dentistry and we’d love you to come and join us.
The Evolve team have been busy baking (and possibly buying… we won’t judge! 😉) and there’ll be plenty of cake and drinks available throughout the day, all in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
And remember - you don’t need to be an Evolve patient to come along.
If you live or work in Portishead, are passing by, or just fancy an excellent excuse for cake, pop in and see us. Bring a friend, your family or your workmates too!
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cake and drinks throughout the day
💚 Donations for Macmillan Cancer Support
👋 Everyone welcome
No appointment needed - just pop in!
Come and help us eat an unreasonable amount of cake for a very good cause. 💚
Please share so we can get as many people through the doors as possible!
Do I have to replace a missing tooth?
If you`ve lost a tooth, do you have to replace it?
Not necessarily.
And that`s an important starting point.
What happens next depends on which tooth is missing, your mouth, how you bite, how you feel about the gap and what`s happening with the teeth around it.
Yasmin explains some of the things we consider when a tooth is missing.
The important thing isn`t assuming you need a particular treatment.
It`s understanding your options - including whether doing nothing could be a reasonable option for you.
Why have my teeth suddenly become sensitive?
That sudden zing when you drink something cold. 🥶
Sound familiar?
Sensitive teeth are common, but there isn`t just one possible cause.
Richard explains some of the reasons teeth can become sensitive and why it`s worth mentioning if you`ve noticed something new.
Sometimes a little sensitivity is exactly that.
But a change that persists is something we`d rather know about than have you quietly avoiding ice cream for the foreseeable future.
Having a tooth removed probably isn`t an appointment anyone particularly looks forward to.
Which is precisely why feedback like this means so much:
“Made getting a tooth extracted incredibly easy and straightforward.”
Good dental care isn`t only about the procedure itself.
It`s about knowing what`s going to happen, being able to ask questions, feeling listened to and being looked after throughout.
Thank you for trusting us with your care - and for taking the time to tell us about your experience.
