Not too little. Not too much. Just the right repair.
Most patients don’t realise there is often a better option between a filling and a full crown.
Inlays and onlays are designed for teeth that are too damaged for a simple filling but may not need the full coverage of a crown. They restore strength while preserving more of your natural tooth.
See how they work
Quick overviews of inlays and onlays.
Sometimes a filling is not enough, but a crown is more than you need.
That is exactly where inlays and onlays sit. They are ideal when a tooth needs more support than a filling can provide, while still allowing us to preserve more healthy tooth structure than a full crown.
Preserve more natural tooth
Inlays and onlays are more conservative than crowns, which makes them attractive when tooth preservation matters.
Stronger than large fillings
They are made to reinforce a damaged tooth more reliably when a standard filling may be more likely to fail.
Natural-looking ceramic
Tooth-coloured ceramic helps the restoration blend naturally while restoring function and strength.
What option is right for you?
The best choice depends on how much of the tooth is damaged and how much healthy structure remains.
Filling
Best when the damage is still relatively small and enough healthy tooth remains for a direct repair.
Inlay or onlay
Best when the damage is larger and the tooth needs more support, but a full crown may still be excessive.
Crown
Best when the tooth is too compromised to be predictably restored with a more conservative option.
How inlays and onlays compare.
For many patients, this is the key question: is the tooth better managed with a filling, an inlay/onlay, or a crown?
Compared with fillings
Inlays and onlays are often stronger and more durable for larger areas of damage, especially when a filling would leave the tooth too weak.
Compared with crowns
They usually preserve more of your natural tooth, which is a major benefit when the remaining structure is still healthy enough to support this approach.
Why patients like them
They often strike the best balance between strength, longevity, aesthetics, and conservative treatment.
What happens if a damaged tooth is not restored properly?
Teeth rarely get stronger on their own. Delaying the right restoration can allow a manageable problem to become a much bigger one.
Cracks can spread
What starts as a weakened cusp or damaged filling margin can progress into a fracture that is harder to repair.
Fillings can fail repeatedly
Large fillings in heavily compromised teeth may chip, leak, or fail again under chewing pressure.
You may end up needing more
Without the right level of support, the tooth may eventually need a crown, root canal treatment, or even extraction.
A more precise and more conservative restorative process.
Where suitable, ceramic inlays and onlays can be planned and delivered with digital accuracy while preserving more of the natural tooth.
Assess
We evaluate the tooth and decide whether an inlay or onlay is the right level of treatment.
Prepare
Only the damaged area is removed while preserving as much healthy tooth as possible.
Digital scan
Digital records replace traditional impressions in many cases, improving comfort and precision.
Fit & bond
The ceramic restoration is fitted and bonded carefully to restore strength, function, and appearance.
Conservative dentistry with more strength than a filling.
Inlays and onlays are often the ideal middle ground when a tooth needs more than a filling but not the full coverage of a crown.
Typical
Than large fillings
Than crowns
Tooth-coloured finish
The right level of treatment matters.
We focus on selecting the most appropriate restoration for the tooth rather than defaulting to something more or less invasive than necessary.
Transparent guidance before you decide.
The final fee depends on the size of the restoration, which tooth is involved, and whether an inlay or onlay is the most appropriate option after assessment.
Inlays & onlays
Quote after assessment
Best priced once the condition of the tooth is assessed and the right restorative option is confirmed.
Why assessment matters
Tooth-dependent
The right treatment depends on how much tooth is left, where the damage is, and whether the tooth can be predictably restored conservatively.
Choose the right repair before the tooth needs more.
If a filling keeps failing or a tooth feels weakened, we’ll help you understand whether an inlay, onlay, or crown is the best long-term option for strength, comfort, and preservation.