Procedures
Inlay and onlay
Also called partial crown, indirect filling
A custom-made restoration that fits into or over a tooth, larger than a filling but smaller than a crown.
Inlays and onlays are made outside the mouth, either in a lab or by a milling machine, and then bonded to a tooth that has too much damage for a regular filling but not enough to need a full crown. An inlay sits within the biting surface; an onlay also covers one or more tips of the tooth. They take two visits unless the office mills them same-day, and insurance often treats them like crowns.
Example at the front desk
Dr. Kim recommended an onlay instead of a crown, so I asked the plan if it pays it at the crown level.