Inlays and Onlays:
These are the indirect fillings. They are called indirect because they get fabricated in the lab on a model resembling the teeth.
Indications:
– When a tooth is heavily decayed, it will be hard to support the remaining tooth structure and to establish proper contact with the adjacent teeth.
– Also if a direct filling is used (applied and cured directly in the tooth) the setting of the deep layers of the filling is questionable, but a filling done in the lab is much easier controlled away from moisture and other factors that make setting the deep parts of the filling hard.
– So the inlays and onlays are stronger, fit better, and provide better support for the tooth.
– They are made of strong material like porcelain or composite especially made for indirect fillings.