Onlays

Onlays are most often used on molars and premolars, the teeth that absorb the heaviest chewing forces. The typical candidate is someone with a tooth that has been filled and refilled over the years until there's more filling material than natural enamel left, or someone who has cracked a cusp biting into something hard. We also see patients whose large amalgam fillings have begun to flex and leak, allowing decay to creep in underneath.

Because an onlay is more conservative than a crown, it's a good option when the tooth still has solid, healthy walls worth preserving. That conservation matters over a lifetime — the more natural tooth structure that stays, the more stable the long-term foundation. If decay or a fracture has reached the nerve, a root canal may be needed first, and we handle molar, premolar, and anterior root canal therapy here, including retreatments. If a tooth is too broken down for an onlay, we'll tell you plainly and discuss a crown or another restorative option instead. We treat patients of all ages, and we see families from Ocala, Belleview, Silver Springs, Summerfield, The Villages, Dunnellon, and the surrounding Marion County communities.

Your first visit starts with an exam and imaging so we can see how deep the damage goes and whether the crack extends below the gumline. We check your bite, look for signs of grinding, and talk through what we find before any treatment begins. If clenching or grinding caused the fracture, we may recommend a night guard to protect the new restoration, and if jaw pain or clicking is part of the picture, we also evaluate and treat TMJ disorders.

Treatment itself involves numbing the tooth, removing decay and any failing filling material, and shaping the remaining structure so the onlay seats cleanly. We take a precise impression or digital scan of the prepared tooth and your opposing bite. Here's where our on-site dental lab changes the timeline — fabrication happens in our building rather than being shipped out and waited on. Once the restoration is ready, we check the fit and contacts, adjust the bite until it feels even, and bond it in place. For patients who feel uneasy in the chair, we offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation.

Insurance, Payment, and Scheduling

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a General Practitioner. We also welcome self-pay and cash patients, and we offer flexible payment plans so a needed restoration doesn't have to wait. Before treatment, we'll walk you through what's involved and what your portion is expected to be.

We've practiced general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in Ocala for over 30 years, and Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see both children and adults. If a tooth is chipped, sensitive, or carrying a filling that's seen better days, call us to schedule an exam — we also keep room for emergency appointments when something breaks unexpectedly.