Fillings, Inlays, and Onlays

Dental fillings are an essential treatment that restores a decayed tooth to full health. By removing decay and placing a strong, durable filling on the tooth, we can extend its lifespan to give you many more years of use.

Dr. Robert Holland is an experienced prosthodontist who specializes in repairing and replacing damaged and missing teeth. He understands the importance of using minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to preserve healthy tooth structure.

Benefits of Composite Tooth Fillings

Our prosthodontist, Dr. Robert Holland, typically places tooth fillings as part of a larger treatment plan that includes several services. He recommends tooth-colored composite fillings because they are less invasive than silver amalgam and create beautiful, seamless repairs.

An Aesthetic Tooth Filling for a Seamless Repair

One of the benefits of composite fillings is aesthetics because they repair tooth damage without the telltale signs of silver-mercury fillings.

The material is close in appearance to tooth enamel and mimics its translucency, thanks to the glass and resin particles it contains. When preparing a composite filling, we can choose from one of the many white shades available to match your tooth’s color.

Many of our patients who have large dark amalgam fillings opt to have them replaced with tooth-colored fillings or capped with a dental crown.

Composite Fillings Preserve Healthy Tooth Structure

When placing a composite resin filling, our prosthodontist needs to remove only a minimal amount of healthy tooth structure, if any. He removes the decay, then applies an etching liquid to the tooth that creates a secure bond with the filling material.

Dr. Holland then places the soft composite material on the prepared tooth and expertly sculpts and shapes it to match the tooth’s contours. The final step is curing the filling to harden it.

What Are Dental Inlays and Onlays?

An inlay or onlay is a dental restoration that allows precise restoration of the form and function of a damaged or decayed tooth. Inlays and onlays are more involved than a filling but less invasive than placing a dental crown, so we can leave more natural tooth structure intact.

Inlays and onlays are also often referred to as indirect fillings. Direct fillings are created in your mouth, and inlays and onlays are made to precise specifications in a dental lab, then placed on your tooth by our prosthodontist.

The difference between an inlay and an onlay is coverage. An inlay is a tooth-colored restoration made to replace a portion of structure inside the points (cusps) of the teeth. An onlay covers a larger portion of the tooth’s chewing surface and is used when areas outside the four points are damaged.

Natural-looking inlays and onlays fit your teeth perfectly, providing greater protection from recurring tooth decay. They also preserve more natural tooth structure and provide long-lasting stability.

Do You Need a Prosthodontist in Columbia, SC?

Dr. Robert Holland has served patients in The Midlands of the Carolinas and across the state for 30 years. He is a well-respected prosthodontist with extremely high standards for quality and meticulous attention to detail.

If you are looking for a prosthodontist to restore your smile, please call our Columbia dental office.

Giving You a Reason to Smile!