The biting surfaces of premolars and molars are designed to make your teeth more efficient at grinding and chewing tough foods. Unfortunately, these areas can also be hard to clean, which means they could potentially trap residual food particles. In time, these areas could come to harbor large areas of tooth decay that could prove very problematic to your oral health in the future.
If the tooth decay is detected and treated early, Dr. Susan Evans can often repair these cavities with inlay or onlay fillings in Hutchinson, KS. The significant difference between these two types of fillings is related to the size and location of the tooth decay.
Inlays are used to repair large cavities that are limited to the enamel on biting surface of a back tooth. Onlays are used to repair a larger area of decay that might extend from the biting surface to the sides of a back tooth.
These fillings are typically made from porcelain or gold, so they will need to be prepared at a dental lab. When they are ready, your dentist will call you back into Susan Evans DDS for a second appointment to cement the fillings into place.
If you suspect that a cavity has formed on one of your molars or premolars, you should call Dr. Susan Evans at 620-663-5297 to seek diagnosis, treatment and repair.