Dentist. . .

So, I have become accustomed to going to the dentist by now, unfortunately! Well yesterday was the day to go back and have my inlay cemented back in! BLAH!! I went in with the expectation of having to pay for the inlay because it is an inlay that I cracked back in January and originally it was put in 3 years ago. Apparently the insurance only covers to repair them every 5 years, :( so I was expecting after it was done to have to write a check for $637!!! Nope I got to the front counter and Melissa (the girl at the front counter) told me not to worry about it and that she was going to try and get it covered for me!!!! YEA!!!!!! So, now we wait to try and see if the insurance will indeed cover it for me, I sure hope they do there are many more things that I could spend that $637 that are more worthwhile than a stinkin piece of gold in my mouth!!



For those of you who don't know what an Inlay is. . .
Inlays

Inlays are indirect fillings pre-made in a dental lab and must be permanently cemented by a dentist. Fillings are different from indirect fillings in that they are soft to begin with and set in the mouth. As opposed to an onlay (the other type of indirect filling) which sits on the tooth and builds up its shape inlays fit into the space left after a cavity or old filling has been removed.

Inlays are generally made in tooth-coloured porcelain but are also made in gold or composite materials. Inlays are far more durable than fillings don’t require much of the actual tooth structure to be removed in order to place them and actually increase the strength of the tooth by up to 75% preventing further decay. Since inlays are made outside the mouth they are usually very strong and last up to thirty years. Inlays are aesthetically pleasing as they can be made to match the tooth color and as such don’t draw attention.

Applying an inlay is a two visit dental procedure. During the first visit the tooth decay or old filling material will be removed. A mold of the tooth and adjacent teeth is taken and sent to a dental lab. In the meantime a temporary filling will be applied to protect the tooth. During the second appointment the dentist will cement the inlay in place making any necessary adjustments to ensure a comfortable bite.