Many of us think about filling a tooth when a tooth is rotten or broken... but a normal filling is not always the best solution... sometimes methods called inlay and onlay are used to preserve more of the healthy tooth tissue and have a more resistant and lasting result.. What teeth are different? Both inlays and onlays are used to repair teeth that are partially damaged but still do not need a full cover... with the difference that inlays only fill the middle part of the tooth, but inlays cover the ridges around it in addition to the center of the tooth. If inlays and onlays are installed correctly and carefully on the teeth, they can last for years without any problems. 10 and 15 years, but if they are well taken care of, they may live longer. In order for inlays or onlays to remain healthy for a long time, oral hygiene is very important. The construction of these restorations has a great impact on their lifetime. For example, ceramic is more resistant than composite and also works better against high chewing pressure, if food is not chewed. And inlays will last longer. Inlay and inlay treatment steps Treatment with inlay and onlay is usually done in two stages and is a little more precise than normal filling, because it requires molding and making a special piece of the tooth... In the first session, the dentist cleans the damaged or decayed parts of the tooth completely to be ready for restoration... After cleaning, a mold is taken from the laboratory to mark this mold on the tooth to determine its exact shape. During this time, a temporary covering is placed on the tooth to protect the tooth until the main restoration is ready.