---
title: "What Is Onlay? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "An onlay is a custom-made repair that fills a cavity and also covers one or more cusps of the tooth. It is bigger than an inlay but smaller than a crown."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/onlay
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Procedures

# Onlay

An onlay is a custom-made repair that fills a cavity and also covers one or more cusps of the tooth. It is bigger than an inlay but smaller than a crown.

An onlay is like an inlay, but it also covers at least one cusp, the raised point on the chewing surface of the tooth. It is made outside the mouth and then bonded to the tooth. An onlay sits between a filling and a crown in size.

Sometimes a cavity is too big for a filling, but too small for a crown. In a case like this, your dentist might recommend an inlay or onlay. Onlays can cover a weak cusp and help hold the tooth together. They keep more natural tooth than a full [dental crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-crown) does.

Onlays can be made of gold, porcelain or composite resin. Your dentist can talk with you about the materials and the number of visits. See [inlay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/inlay) and [cusp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cusp). Our office describes [restorative dentistry](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/restorative-dentistry) on its own page.

[Town Center Dental can helpRestorative Dentistry](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/restorative-dentistry)

## Related terms

-   [Inlay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/inlay)
-   [Cusp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cusp)
-   [Dental crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-crown)
-   [Dental filling](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-filling)
-   [Composite resin](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/composite-resin)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Restorative Dentistry: What It Is, Types & Procedures](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10924-dental-restorations)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Restorative Dentistry: What It Is, Types & Procedures](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10924-dental-restorations)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)