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When a tooth has too much decay or damage for a standard filling, but isn't damaged enough to need a full crown, porcelain inlays and onlays offer the ideal solution. Often referred to as "partial crowns," inlays and onlays let us restore your tooth's natural shape, strength, and chewing power while preserving as much of your healthy natural tooth structure as possible. At Federal Way Dental Excellence, our restorative care is tailored to your unique smile and crafted right in our on-site in-house dental laboratory.
Inlays
Onlays
What is the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
While both restorations repair damaged chewing surfaces, they cover slightly different areas of the tooth:
Why choose inlays & onlays over full crowns or standard fillings?
- Preserves Maximum Natural Enamel: Unlike full crowns that require reshaping the entire tooth, inlays and onlays only replace the damaged portions, leaving your healthy enamel untouched.
- Superior Material Strength: Crafted from high-grade ceramic or porcelain, inlays and onlays resist fracturing under heavy chewing pressure far better than large composite resin fillings.
- Seamless Natural Appearance: Custom-tinted to match the exact shade and translucency of your tooth, making your repair virtually undetectable when you speak or smile.
- Protects Against Future Decay: Micro-bonded directly to your tooth walls, inlays and onlays seal out harmful oral bacteria and protect against structural cracking over time.
The advantage of in-house laboratory craftsmanship
Getting a partial crown at Federal Way Dental Excellence means you benefit from direct, local laboratory craftsmanship:
Our master laboratory artisans work right alongside your dentist in Federal Way to analyze your enamel shade under natural lighting for exact color harmony.
We utilize digital intraoral scanning to map your bite, ensuring your custom inlay or onlay fits tightly and aligns comfortably with your chewing pattern.
If your bite needs fine-tuning during your fitting, our lab technicians make adjustments right on the spot without sending your restoration out to external facilities.
Ryan L. said
"Fast friendly convenient hours great location.. they will work with you for what you need done and recommend future work.."
Emergency Dental Care in Federal Way
What to do if your inlay or onlay falls off
While porcelain inlays and onlays are exceptionally strong and long-lasting, heavy trauma, sticky foods, or underlying recurrent decay can occasionally cause a restoration to loosen, fracture, or pop off. Exposed teeth can be extremely sensitive to air, heat, and cold. If your inlay or onlay comes dislodged, follow these immediate steps:
If you can find the dislodged piece, gently rinse it and place it in a clean container.
Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean away debris.
Do not attempt to reattach your inlay or onlay using superglue or household adhesives.
We either re-cement your restoration or fabricate a new custom piece in our dental lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be in the know
The questions below cover essential details about Federal Way Dental Excellence, our specialist doctors, and practice policies. If you have questions regarding specific dental procedures, feel free to explore our dedicated service pages or contact our Federal Way team directly at (253) 838-1225.
Getting Started
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