Inlays & Onlays in Nashville, TN - Center for Advanced Dentistry

Expanding the boundaries of dentistry is an important mission for Nashville dentist Dr. Forbes at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. Porcelain inlays and onlays give our patients an alternative to composite fillings that is more attractive, more stain-resistant, and longer-lasting.

If you are in Nashville and need a general and cosmetic dentist with advanced training in neuromuscular science to place an inlay or onlay, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry online or call (615) 383-6787 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Forbes.

Why Inlays and Onlays?

Our Nashville dentist knows the way teeth can take a beating. Four things that tend to take a toll on your teeth include:

Decay
Wear
Disease
Older metal fillings

Inlays and onlays are a type of porcelain filling that is custom-crafted for your tooth. With the tight bond, these fillings prevent the infiltration of food as well as bacteria that cause decay.

Inlays refer to smaller fillings that normally sit entirely inside the top of the tooth. An onlay is a filling that extends over one or more of the edges or points in your teeth (called cusps).

Why Porcelain?

Standard silver or mercury fillings and metal-based crowns used to be our only options for saving natural teeth. Now we have porcelain crowns and bridges, advanced tooth-colored resin materials instead of fillings, and porcelain inlays and onlays.

Since porcelain inlays and onlays are precisely matched to the damaged area of your tooth and bonded into place, they hold teeth together rather than spreading them apart, which is what metal tends to do inside a tooth. In fact, because metal expands, metal fillings actually cause teeth to crack over time. Porcelain inlays and onlays can actually add strength to decayed or damaged teeth.

Porcelain is also the most attractive restoration material. Metal fillings are obvious, and when metal amalgam fillings oxidize and turn black they can look as bad as having big cavities in your teeth. Composite resin fillings are similar in color to your natural teeth and can be polished to mimic the luster of tooth enamel. But they can stain over time, and they will lose their luster as they are worn down. Porcelain fillings look almost identical to tooth enamel in color and luster, and with the labs we use–which are certified in biomimetic principles–they can be given natural shapes, something that is hard to achieve with composite fillings.

Porcelain is more durable than resin. That means it is better suited to withstand the years of the impact caused by biting and chewing. Some studies of porcelain fillings show that they have the lowest failure rates of any materials over the long term.

Drawbacks of Porcelain Inlays and Onlays

Porcelain inlays and onlays do have some limitations. First, they are more expensive than other types of fillings. However, that’s only the immediate cost. The long-term cost is more comparable because inlays and onlays do not need as much replacing or additional work over time.

Also, porcelain inlays and onlays require a second visit to be fitted. During the first visit, your tooth will be prepared to receive the filling, and we will take impressions of your teeth.

These impressions are then sent to a lab, where your fillings will be custom-crafted for you. In the meantime, you will wear a temporary filling.

To book your appointment with Dr. Forbes, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry online or call (615) 383-6787.

Testimonials

The new owner of Center For Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Mckinnon Forbes has done several procedures on me when was practicing in North Carolina and I... read more

Beverly A.

I had an amazing first experience at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. I felt prioritized, taken care of, and respected as a customer. For most... read more

Noah W.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience... read more

Sammie U.

They deserve a 10 out of 10 from this patient!!! AHH-MAZING! We had a life changing experience for our household. When you have dental anxiety and... read more

Richelle T.

So happy to have found a dentist that feels like home :) I was looking for a holistically minded practice, and CFAD checked all the boxes. our... read more

Jamie C.

Dr. Forbes is THE BEST!!! Not only is he an expert in his field, he is personable, kind, and his staff made me comfortable at every turn. I gladly... read more

Rachel S.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had... read more

Tamara B.

Sammie U.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience was quite horrible. I had already developed some dental anxiety prior to this, but this particular visit sent it through the roof. I knew I needed a new dentist and I wanted to find a holistic one who would align with my values and refer out to other practices as little as possible. I found Dr. Forbes at Center for Advanced Dentistry and scheduled a consult knowing I would eventually need an implant to replace my missing tooth. Crissy, their patient coordinator, spent almost three hours with me that first day! She was incredibly kind, great at helping educate me about the root causes of the issues going on in my mouth, patient answering all my questions, and so encouraging when I shared with her how much I struggled with anxiety when getting dental work done. Her passion for helping others in this field radiates through her and quickly helps build an immediate trust. We discussed several different options to best fit my timeline, budget, fears/anxiety, etc. I chose to have two additional teeth extracted (both were root canals that I had wanted out for years) and have implants placed in the, what would be three missing areas. At first, I had decided I wanted to be fully put under with anesthesia because I was so nervous about the procedure. But as we got closer, I started to wonder if I could do it without since it was so expensive, and overall not the healthiest option either. Dr. Forbes and Crissy encouraged me that I could do the procedure with alternative calming methods that they offer and that if at any point I felt like I couldn’t handle it, we could stop. Y’all, I don’t have the words to express the gratitude toward Dr. Forbes and the whole CAD office on surgery day. From their patience in waiting for me to be ready for them to start, to holding my hand and wiping away my tears. From Dr. Forbes communicating with me throughout the whole process, to pushing through seven hours with me in the chair to wrap up what I believe to be the best work anyone could have performed. I’m not even three days post-op and I can’t believe how little pain I’ve felt. I will never trust another dentist like I do Dr. Forbes and I can honestly say I’m less fearful now for future procedures. I look forward to the future dental work and corrections I’ve needed for such a long time! I never thought that would be possible. Thank you, Center for Advanced Dentistry!

Tamara B.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had seen multiple friends post about them and from the look of their website and social media they looked like they aligned well with my holistic approach to health in general. Backstory: I have had a handful of dental emergencies as an adult, that always led to tooth removal. They were at traditional dentist offices that seemed to want the quick fix to everything. I believe my teeth probably could have been saved if I had known more about preventative oral health and the holistic mindset around teeth in general back then. Most dentists (at least the many that I have seen) do not educate you on full body functional health. They focus on service level in my opinion. I needed more than this. I was tired of not understanding. So I learned more about holistic options. I have a lot of anxiety seeing dentists because every visit for over a decade was always bad news. I need my bite corrected, a few implants, and some small fires to be put out. I don't need a celebrity smile like other doctors have pushed, and I very much like my smile how it is. What I need is better function of my overall health. I didn't want braces at 33 and the suggested gameplan from another doctor was many years of work. Going into CFAD today, I felt this huge weight and confusion over me. I was nervous and defeated, but I walked out empowered and confident! My consultation was more like having coffee with a friend. Crissy immediately helped my nerves dissipate with her personality and gentle demeanor. We talked for hours. The wealth of knowledge that was poured into me was exactly what I was searching for. She was very likeminded about health in general and made me feel safe to ask questions. She eased into the plan for my mouth and I never felt like she was rushing or waiting to move on to the next topic. I could have talked to her all day. She really made me completely comfortable before I even saw Dr. Forbes. So by the time he came in, I had zero anxiety. That alone is a miracle in itself, because it's never happened before. The plan for my mouth is different than I expected, but I am so excited for their expertise to be a success story for me. I actually understand the plan and why. Another first! I don't need to get braces, and it actually won't take much time at all to bring functionality back into my mouth. If you are on the fence about big dental work, I highly suggest meeting with Center for Advanced Dentistry for a consultation. I can't wait to start improving and healing my mouth with this amazing team.

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