When there is excessive tooth defect or the adjacent surfaces have been damaged, and the shape of the tooth and the normal adjacent relationship cannot be restored through filling treatment (abnormal adjacent relationships can cause food impaction), inset restoration can be chosen.

An inlay is a kind of restoration that is embedded in the cavity of a tooth to restore the shape and function of a tooth defect.

The production process is as follows: First, the affected tooth is cut and ground to form a cavity of a certain shape. Then, according to the shape of the cavity, a restoration - an inlay - is made from different materials that is exactly the same as and fits the cavity.

After the inlay is fitted properly, it is adhered to the cavity with an adhesive to restore the defect of the tooth's damaged tissue and restore the shape and function of the affected tooth to normal.

Compared with filling methods, inlays can better restore the shape of the occlusal surface of teeth and the contact relationship between adjacent surfaces.

Inlays can be classified into metal inlays, hard resin inlays and porcelain inlays based on different materials. Metal inlays have good performance, are sturdy and durable, and are widely used. However, due to their color affecting the appearance, they are mostly used for posterior tooth restoration. Hard resin inlays and porcelain-fused-to-metal inlays are in harmony with the color of human teeth, are hard and wear-resistant, and are widely used in front teeth.