Similar to dental fillings, inlays and onlays repair damage to your teeth caused by decay or wear. To do this, the damaged part of your tooth is removed, a fabrication (either inlay or onlay) is crafted in a local dental lab, and it is bonded to your tooth.
Both dental restorations are similar, but they treat different sizes of damage. An inlay is used to repair damage within the center surface of your tooth. An onlay repairs damage that extends to one or more of your tooth’s cusps or even the entire biting surface.