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Inlays and Onlays in Beverly Hills

Restore a damaged tooth and keep more natural structure than a crown, from a Beverly Hills dentist with 27 years. Choose your dentist wisely.

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More Than a Filling. Less Than a Crown. All the Natural Tooth We Can Save.

Inlays and onlays repair a tooth too damaged for a filling and too healthy for a crown. You keep more of your natural tooth, and the repair blends right in. At his office on South Beverly Drive, Dr. Joseph Goodman brings advanced prosthodontics training from USC to these custom porcelain restorations. He fits each one to your bite and matches it to your shade. The result feels like your own tooth.

A crown covers the whole tooth and removes healthy structure to do it. An inlay or onlay does not. It fits into or over the damaged area like a puzzle piece and bonds in place. We pick the smallest repair the tooth needs, and we tell you honestly when a filling will hold or when a crown is the safer call. Below you will find how they work, when you need one, how they compare, and honest cost.

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What are inlays and onlays?

An inlay and an onlay are custom restorations made in a dental lab to repair a back tooth. An inlay fits inside the cusps of the tooth. An onlay covers one or more cusps. Both bond to the tooth and last about 10 to 30 years with good care. We place them over two visits.

Here is how the two visits work. At the first, we remove the decay or the old filling, shape the tooth, and take an impression. You leave with a temporary in place. A lab crafts your porcelain restoration to fit. At the second visit, we bond it in, check your bite, and polish it smooth. Inlays and onlays are part of the restorative general dentistry care Dr. Goodman provides in Beverly Hills.

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Phone:

Call: (310) 860-9311
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Address:

241 1/2 S Beverly Dr Suite 201,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Dr. Joseph Goodman, DDS, DMD
California License 47521

Office Hours

Monday – 9:00am – 7:30pm
Tuesday – 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday – 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday – 8:00am – 5:30pm
Friday – 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday – Closed

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When do you need an inlay or onlay?

You need an inlay or onlay when a tooth has too much damage for a filling but still has healthy structure to save. Dr. Goodman checks the tooth and shows you the options. Here are six signs one of these restorations is the right fit.

  • A cavity is too large for a filling to hold
  • A cusp on your back tooth has fractured
  • An old, worn filling keeps breaking down
  • A tooth is broken but still mostly healthy
  • Deep decay sits on the biting surface of a molar
  • You want to replace an unsightly silver filling

Not every tooth needs this step. When the damage is small, a composite filling does the job in one visit. When decay reaches the nerve, you may need a root canal first. We match the repair to the tooth, never more than it needs.

Inlay, onlay, filling, or crown, what is the difference?

The four repairs cover a range of damage, from small to severe. A filling handles minor decay. An inlay and an onlay handle moderate damage while saving tooth structure. A crown covers a tooth with heavy damage. The table shows where each one fits and how much tooth it keeps.

Repair Best for Tooth kept
Filling Small cavity Most of the tooth
Inlay Moderate decay inside the cusps Most of the tooth
Onlay Damage over one or more cusps Much of the tooth
Crown Heavy damage or a broken tooth Less, the tooth is reshaped

The line is not always obvious, and pushing a crown when an onlay would do costs you healthy tooth. When a tooth truly needs full coverage, dental crowns are the next step. When it does not, we save the tooth with an inlay or onlay.

Dentists in Beverly Hills CA, Inlays and Onlays in Beverly Hills CA, Dr. Joseph Goodman DDS DMD

Why choose an inlay or onlay?

Patients choose inlays and onlays for the strength, the natural look, and the tooth they get to keep. Made to last about 10 to 30 years, they outlast most fillings. Here are six reasons this restoration wins for the right tooth.

  • It saves far more natural tooth than a crown
  • Custom porcelain fits your tooth with precision
  • The shade matches your natural teeth, so it blends in
  • A strong bond seals the tooth against new decay
  • Porcelain resists stains better than many fillings
  • A metal-free option suits patients who want no silver or gold

Material matters to many of our Beverly Hills patients. We offer metal-free porcelain, and our holistic dentistry page covers biocompatible care and safe amalgam removal. Your restoration should protect your health as much as your smile.

How much do inlays and onlays cost in Beverly Hills?

An inlay or onlay runs about 650 to 1,200 dollars per tooth, and the average sits near 900 dollars. Porcelain runs at the higher end, while composite and gold run lower. Beverly Hills prices run above the national average. Your final cost depends on the tooth and the material.

Most dental plans cover part of an inlay or onlay, since it restores a damaged tooth rather than serving looks alone. We check your benefits before any work. If you want to compare it with other dental filling options, we walk you through each one. You get an honest quote after the exam, and we take CareCredit.

CHOOSE YOUR

DENTIST WISELY

BEGIN YOUR PERSONALIZED DENTAL EXPERIENCE WITH DR. GOODMAN

You know the difference now. A full crown grinds away healthy tooth you can never get back. An inlay or onlay from Dr. Goodman restores the damage while keeping more of your natural tooth, and he will tell you honestly which one your tooth actually needs. Dr. Joseph Goodman DDS DMD, California License 47521, has placed precise, lab-crafted restorations in Beverly Hills for 27 years, serving West Hollywood, Century City, and patients from as far as the UAE and Germany. Call (310) 860-9311 or book at topbeverlyhillsdentist.com.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do inlays and onlays cost?

An inlay or onlay runs about 650 to 1,200 dollars per tooth, with an average near 900 dollars. Porcelain costs more than composite or gold. The ADA encourages you to weigh material, longevity, and insurance coverage with your dentist. Most plans cover part of the cost. In Beverly Hills, prices run above average, and we quote you after the exam.

Are inlays and onlays better than a filling?

For a moderately damaged tooth, often yes. An inlay or onlay is stronger and lasts longer than a large filling. The Cleveland Clinic notes an inlay or onlay suits a cavity too big for a filling but too small for a crown. For a small cavity, a filling is still the right, simpler choice.

Inlay, onlay, or crown, which do I need?

It comes down to how much healthy tooth is left. An inlay or onlay repairs moderate damage while saving structure. A crown covers a tooth with heavy damage. The Cleveland Clinic lists inlays and onlays as an option for a tooth too healthy to warrant a crown. We recommend the smallest repair the tooth needs.

Is getting an inlay painful?

No. We numb the tooth first, so you feel pressure but no pain during the visit. Some sensitivity for a day or two afterward is normal. The Cleveland Clinic notes a restoration begins with numbing the area before the dentist removes decay. If a tooth stays sensitive, call us and we will check the fit.

Related Services

The information on this page is provided to help you understand teeth whiteing and the cosmetic services Dr. Goodman provides. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or individualized treatment. (For personalized guidance, please schedule an appointment with our licensed dental professional.)

Choose Your Dentist Wisely