The mouth can generate tremendous forces during mastication or chewing. This is the reason that many composite fillings fail when they are placed on the biting surfaces of the back teeth. While silver, amalgam fillings are harder than composite fillings, thus not cracking under pressure, they tend to cause the teeth to crack instead. The alternative to a composite or amalgam filling is a lab processed filling. The benefit is that the lab processed filling can be made of superior materials and can be adapted perfectly to the tooth, among many other benefits.

An inlay is a lab processed, one surface filling, such as on the top of the tooth.

An onlay is a lab processed inlay that provides bracing around the sides of the tooth. This is an ideal restoration as it helps to prevent the tooth from splitting or cracking. It is almost like a little hat.

Lastly, a crown is like the continuation of an onlay as it wraps around the entire tooth, extending to the gum line. It is almost like a little hat with ear flaps to the gum line.

There are many choices of lab processed materials such as tooth colored, which includes porcelain, and gold.

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