Inlays and onlays are tooth restorations that are fabricated in a dental laboratory or our Cerec CAD/CAM and are customized to the shape and color of your tooth. They are bonded to your tooth and are very strong and durable restorations.They can be made of gold or composite resin, but are usually made from porcelain. The difference between them is an onlay goes over the cusp of your tooth where an inlay is smaller and stays within the cusp. They are cosmetic alternatives to silver fillings and much more conservative than crowns, when indicated. Typically they are ideal in teeth that have large decay or an existing large filling. Traditional fillings can decrease the strength of teeth by up to 50% whereas inlays and onlays actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75%.