Phone: (202) 783 - 3368 -
Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Dental Fillings – Tooth-Colored Fillings, Dental Inlays & Onlays
What is it?
Most of us will have decay in our teeth at sometime. This calls for a dental appointment to remove the decay and to restore the tooth with a dental filling.
We at James E. Johnson DDS, & Associates P.C. offer excellent quality composite resin and porcelain fillings that have the same color as your teeth. We are experienced in color-blending the filling so that it matches the natural color of your tooth.
If a major part of your molar tooth's biting surface is decayed, we recommend an inlay or onlay as a stronger option. An inlay is placed in between the cusps of the tooth, whereas an onlay is more extensive and will cover one or more of the cusps. Inlays and onlays are used when more than a filling may be needed, but a crown is not required. At James E. Johnson DDS, & Associates P.C., we offer inlays and onlays made of porcelain or tooth-colored resin or gold alloy.
How is it done?
Dental fillings can usually be done in one visit. We remove the decayed parts of your tooth and replace it with the filling.
Inlays and onlays usually take at least two visits. At the first visit, your old filling or decay is removed and the tooth is prepared for the inlay / onlay. We then make an impression of the tooth, and send this impression to the dental laboratory. The laboratory fabricates a custom-made inlay / onlay, using your impression. At this time we also place a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule a second appointment. At the second visit, the temporary sealant is removed and your custom-made inlay / onlay is bonded to your tooth. We have extensive expertise applying inlays / onlays, and we make sure that they fit properly in your tooth and do not interfere with your bite.
What can you expect, and What are the risks?
There are no known risks associated with these procedures. You should avoid biting hard objects, to avoid fracturing the porcelain.