Dental inlays and onlays are a cosmetic dental option somewhere between dental fillings and crowns. Inlays and onlays can be made of a number of hard materials, including porcelain and gold. Inlays and onlays are used when decay is extensive and bonding or a filling would be inadequate.
An inlay is fitted inside the tooth and cemented into place. An onlay covers damage on the outside or the cusp of the tooth. Gold inlays are used to restore teeth in the back of the mouth, whereas porcelain can be used for teeth in any position.