The best alternative to traditional composite restorations made on the back teeth at the clinic are restorations modelled at a laboratory called inlays and onlays.
Inlays and onlays are cosmetic restorations used in case of large cavities, also in lateral teeth treated previously with a root canal therapy (which do not yet qualify for prosthetic treatment with a crown-root inlay and a crown). Inlays and onlays are made of composite, porcelain or gold,the porcelain ones currentlybeing the most modern solution. The indirect method, used to model onlays in a lab, enables achieving an almost ideal reconstruction of the anatomical profile of a tooth and its contact points. Even better results are obtained when cast porcelain or pressed porcelain is used. Onlays and inlays made of gold are as efficient a solution as porcelain ones. Gold is an ideal material for dental reconstructions, as gold objects help prevent secondary caries due to their bacteriostatic properties. The only disadvantage is the aesthetic factor: gold inlays or onlays are visible because of a different colour.
Inlays and onlays have many advantages. They are durable, aesthetic and resistant to wear. The reconstructed tooth looks very natural and can still perform its functions, particularly due to the precise reconstruction of its anatomical profile.