More hard-wearing than a large filling
Because the piece is shaped and hardened outside the mouth, then bonded in as one solid unit, it stands up to heavy chewing better than material packed in soft.
Tooth Repair
Inlays and onlays, a precise repair, the sensible middle ground
A precise, lab-made repair for a tooth that is too damaged for a normal filling but does not yet need a full crown.
The Treatment
Stronger than a filling, kinder than a crown
Sometimes a tooth has lost too much structure for a standard filling to hold up, but there is still plenty of healthy tooth left. An inlay or onlay sits in that gap. It is a single solid piece, made to fit your tooth exactly, then bonded into place. It is typically stronger than a large filling and usually preserves more of your natural tooth than a crown.
We fit inlays and onlays at 80 Hutcheson Street in the heart of Merchant City, a short walk from both Argyle Street and Queen Street stations with the St Enoch subway close by, and patients come to us from every corner of Glasgow for them. They are used mainly on back teeth, the molars and premolars that do the heavy chewing, often where an old, large filling, silver or white, has cracked or broken and a quick patch just will not last. Most are tooth-coloured, so once fitted you would struggle to tell them apart from the rest of your tooth.
If you are not sure whether your tooth needs an inlay, an onlay, a filling or a crown, that is fine. That is what the assessment is for. We will look at how much tooth is left, where the damage is, and how the tooth bites together, then explain which repair we would choose and why.
Is This You?
An old filling that keeps breaking down?
A large filling that cracks or chips, or a back tooth that twinges when you chew, is often a sign the repair has been asked to do more than it can hold. A quick patch on top tends not to last, and each round of drilling takes away a little more tooth.
An inlay or onlay can step in here, reinforcing a heavily filled or cracked back tooth while keeping more of your natural tooth than a crown would. If any of the below sounds familiar, it is worth getting the tooth looked at before the damage spreads. And because we are open day and night, every day, a filling that gives way at an awkward hour can be treated as an emergency appointment rather than a long wait with a sharp edge.
Why Patients Choose It
Why choose an inlay or onlay
Keeps more of your natural tooth
Usually preserves more natural tooth than a crown, which is better for the tooth in the long run.
Tooth-coloured and discreet
Tooth-coloured options blend in, so the repair is hard to spot.
A precise, comfortable fit
The lab-made edge sits flush with your tooth, giving a smooth join that is easier to keep clean and less inviting to new decay.
Replaces and reinforces
Can replace an old, broken or worn filling, including a failed silver one, and help protect a weakened tooth from cracking further.
Checked and fine-tuned on the day
Each piece is made from a digital scan or a precise mould of your tooth, and we adjust the bite at the fitting until it feels right, not just close enough.
How It Works
Your treatment journey
01
Assessment
We check the tooth, take any X-rays we need, and decide whether an inlay, onlay, filling or crown is the right call. We explain why.
02
Prepare the tooth
We numb the area with local anaesthetic, remove any decay or the old filling, and shape the tooth so the new piece will fit and bond well.
03
Scan or impression
We take a digital scan or a mould of the tooth so the inlay or onlay can be made to match it exactly, including how it meets the tooth above or below.
04
Temporary cover
We fit a temporary filling to protect the tooth while the permanent piece is being made in the laboratory.
05
Fit and bond
At the second visit we remove the temporary, check the new piece fits, then bond it firmly in place.
06
Bite check
We check how the tooth bites and make small adjustments so it feels right. You leave with a fully working tooth.
Looking after it
Aftercare
Most inlays and onlays take two short visits, usually a couple of weeks apart. Here is how to look after the tooth at each stage.
The first few days
- Mild sensitivity, especially to hot and cold, is normal for a few days and usually settles by itself.
- The bite may feel slightly different at first. Give it a little time to settle in.
- If the tooth still feels high when you bite down after a few days, or the discomfort is not easing, give us a ring. A quick adjustment usually sorts it.
While the temporary is in (between visits)
- Go easy on hard, sticky or chewy foods on that side, as they can lift a temporary filling.
- Try to chew on the other side where you can.
- Keep brushing gently around the area to keep it clean.
Long term
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, including around the restored tooth.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes, especially at the edges of the restoration where decay can start.
- Keep up with routine check-ups and hygiene visits so we can keep an eye on the tooth and the repair.
- If you grind or clench your teeth, mention it. A nightguard can protect the work.
The trade-offs
Weighing it up
We would rather you know the trade-offs up front.
An inlay or onlay is more involved than a simple filling. It usually means two visits and a wait while the piece is made in the laboratory.
Some short-term sensitivity after fitting is common and normally passes.
There is a small chance that a tooth which has had a lot of work needs further treatment later, such as root canal treatment, if the nerve becomes irritated. This is uncommon but worth knowing.
Decay can still form at the edges of any restoration if cleaning slips, so day-to-day care matters.
How long it lasts depends on the tooth, your bite, whether you grind, and your oral hygiene, and no one can promise an exact lifespan.
Gold is extremely durable but is not tooth-coloured, so material choice is a balance between how it looks and how it stands up to wear.
Catching damage early often means more options and a better chance of preserving tooth with an inlay or onlay rather than moving straight to a crown, so it is worth getting a niggling back tooth checked.
Common Questions
Inlay and onlay questions, answered
What is the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
Both are made-to-fit repairs that are bonded onto a tooth. An inlay sits within the cusps, inside the biting surface, a bit like a larger filling. An onlay also covers one or more of the cusps or the whole biting surface, which is why it is sometimes called a partial crown. The right one depends on how much of the tooth is damaged.
When would I need one instead of a filling or a crown?
When a tooth has more damage or decay than a normal filling can reliably hold, but enough healthy tooth is left that a full crown would remove more than necessary. They are also used to replace large fillings that keep breaking, or to strengthen a cracked back tooth. We decide based on how much sound tooth remains and where the damage is.
Can an onlay replace an old silver filling?
Yes, and it is one of the most common jobs we use them for. When a large silver (amalgam) filling has cracked, broken down or started to leak, a tooth-coloured onlay can replace it with a single bonded piece that also reinforces what is left of the tooth. To be clear, we do not recommend drilling out sound, healthy amalgam fillings purely for cosmetic reasons. If an old silver filling is intact and doing its job, it is usually best left alone until it actually fails.
Does getting an inlay or onlay hurt?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic first, so you should not feel pain during the preparation. Afterwards some mild sensitivity for a few days is normal and usually settles on its own. If you are nervous, tell us. We will go at your pace and explain each step.
How many visits does it take, and how long overall?
Usually two visits a couple of weeks apart. The first prepares the tooth and takes the scan or impression. The piece is then made in the laboratory, and the second visit fits and bonds it.
Can I have an inlay or onlay fitted in one visit?
Some practices mill a restoration in the chair and fit it in a single visit. Ours are made in a dental laboratory over two visits, and we think the wait earns its keep: a technician can layer and characterise the material for a closer colour match, and refine the fit and contact points before the piece ever reaches your mouth. A well-fitted temporary protects the tooth in between, so you are not left uncomfortable while you wait.
Will it be noticeable?
Porcelain, ceramic and composite inlays and onlays are tooth-coloured and matched to your tooth, so they are hard to spot once fitted. Gold is an option if you want maximum durability on a back tooth, but it is not tooth-coloured.
How long do inlays and onlays last?
There is no single number, because it depends on the tooth, your bite, whether you grind your teeth, and how well you clean. As a rough guide, a well-made porcelain or ceramic onlay is in similar territory to a crown, which often lasts 10 to 15 years, while composite versions behave more like composite fillings, typically 5 to 10 years. We cannot promise an exact lifespan for any restoration, but looking after it well gives it the best chance.
How much do inlays and onlays cost in Glasgow?
Every mouth is different, so the honest answer is that it depends on you: whether the tooth needs an inlay or the larger onlay, the material you choose, and how much old filling or decay has to be dealt with first. At your consultation the dentist will go through your options and the cost of each, and you will get a written, itemised quote before anything is agreed. Nothing goes ahead until you are happy.
How does NHS dental treatment work in Scotland?
NHS dental examinations are free for everyone in Scotland. NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 26, pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, or qualify for a low-income exemption. Inlays and onlays are a restorative treatment rather than a purely cosmetic one, so what applies to you depends on your circumstances. Ask when you get in touch and we will explain your options.
Is there any special aftercare?
Nothing complicated. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily, and keep up your check-ups. While a temporary is in place, go easy on hard and sticky foods on that side. If you grind your teeth, a nightguard helps protect the work.
A big filling has just broken and it is the middle of the night. What should I do?
First, do not try to glue anything back in yourself. If a piece of tooth or filling has come out, keep it somewhere safe. Rinse gently with warm salt water, chew on the other side, and if an edge feels sharp, a little sugar-free chewing gum or orthodontic wax from a pharmacy pressed over the point will stop it catching your tongue. Ordinary painkillers, taken as the packet directs, can tide you over. Then call us, any time, day or night, and we will talk you through the next step and get the tooth seen.
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inlay or onlay consultation
We will examine the tooth, show you what we can see, and give you a clear recommendation with the reasons behind it, with no pressure either way.