The inlay
This design restores the middle of the chewing surface when the cusps around it are still in good condition.
- Keeps healthy cusps intact.
- Is shaped to fit a prepared space within the tooth.
- Depends on strong walls around the space.
When your jaw tires easily
Inlays & Onlays for Pembina Residents
Preparing a back tooth means keeping your mouth open for a while, which some people find hard on the jaw. Pembina residents can raise this at our Winnipeg clinic before their inlay or onlay work begins.
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Comfort for the jaw
Back-Tooth Work Asks a Lot of Your Hinge
Inlays and onlays restore molars and premolars that need more support than a filling but may not need a crown. Reaching those teeth means opening wide, and if your jaw clicks, stiffens or aches, that can be the part you worry about most.
Telling the dentist in advance gives everyone a chance to plan around it. Pembina lies within Winnipeg, and a sore or clicking jaw is something its residents can bring up with the dentist at Winnipeg North Dental on McPhillips Street.
Explore inlays & onlays
Say it early
Mentioning jaw stiffness at the assessment lets it be factored into the visits.
Pauses can be asked for
Agree on a signal so you can close and rest when your jaw needs it.
Bite matters twice
Jaw comfort and how your teeth meet are both part of designing the restoration.
What is being restored
Two partial designs for damaged back teeth.
The choice depends on the damage and the sound tooth left behind. Your bite and any habits such as clenching are also part of the picture.
The onlay
This design covers weakened cusps while leaving other areas natural. Because it forms part of the biting surface, bite forces are weighed carefully.
- Rebuilds cusps that need support.
- Covers less than a crown would.
- Must work with how your jaw closes.
If you clench or grind, mention it. Those forces affect both your jaw and how a restoration performs.
Where opening wide is needed
The stages, and which ones ask most of your jaw.
The assessment and bonding tend to involve opening and closing, while preparation usually asks you to stay open for longer stretches.
Request your visit- 01
The evaluation
While looking the tooth over for cracks, decay, weak walls and root problems, the dentist also watches how your jaw closes. Describe any stiffness here.
- 02
Preparing the tooth
Freezing goes in first, then the damaged part is removed and the space is shaped. This is the stretch where your jaw stays open the longest.
- 03
Taking the record
Copying the prepared tooth and your closing pattern, by scanner or by impression tray, means opening once more, and a colour is chosen too.
- 04
Seating the piece
You will be asked to close and grind lightly a number of times while the fit is judged. After that the restoration is attached with adhesive and polished.
Helping your jaw cope
Share what makes your jaw worse or better.
Any detail about your jaw helps the dentist understand how to approach longer stages of treatment.
If your jaw locks, or the tooth becomes very painful before your visit, call the clinic rather than waiting.
Useful to describe
- Whether your jaw clicks, pops or feels stiff after opening wide.
- If you have had trouble with long dental visits before.
- Signs of clenching, such as waking with a tight jaw or worn edges.
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use, and your overall health.
A treatment chair and a seating corner.
Resting the hinge
Ways to make the chair easier on your jaw.
Freezing keeps the tooth comfortable during preparation, but it does not rest your jaw. Short breaks and clear signals can help with that part.
A raised hand
Ask whether you can lift a hand to signal that you need to close for a moment.
Numbing the tooth
Freezing is normally given before any drilling, so the tooth itself stays comfortable even if your jaw muscles tire.
Some tenderness later
Your jaw may feel worked and the tooth a little sensitive afterward; the tooth sensitivity, at least, should fade.
When your teeth close again
Notice how your teeth come together.
After treatment, pay attention to whether the bite feels natural. A restoration that meets too early can feel odd to the jaw as well as the tooth.
01
A high spot
If the restored tooth seems to touch first when you close, call to have the bite checked.
02
Margins need cleaning
Each day, run your brush and floss along the seam where the new piece joins your own enamel.
03
Other warning signs
Ring the clinic if a twinge refuses to settle, the restoration seems to rock, or your tongue finds a sharp lip.
Heavy clenching and an uneven bite can shorten a restoration’s working life, and so can thin remaining tooth, imperfect preparation or bonding, moisture during bonding, poor cleaning and new decay. There is no promised number of years.
Talk with our team
Winnipeg North Dental
Unit-5 2358 Mcphillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6Get directions (opens in a new tab)Planning your visits
All Visits Take Place on McPhillips Street
Patients from Pembina come to Winnipeg North Dental, Unit 5, 2358 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, for assessment and treatment. Directions open from the link attached to the address.
Feel free to write about your jaw in the request. Someone from the clinic then gets in touch to agree on a time, and urgent problems should be phoned in.
Questions about coverage?
Talk with our team before your visit or learn about CDCP.
A little clarity before your visit
Your questions, answered.
Helpful details about inlays & onlays in Pembina.
Ask our teamCan I close my mouth for a break during preparation?
Ask the dentist before starting how pauses can be handled. Agreeing on a simple signal ahead of time makes it easier to ask for one.
Does a stiff jaw stop me from having an onlay?
It does not automatically. Tell the dentist about it, since jaw comfort and how your teeth meet are both considered when planning.
Is the bonding visit as hard on the jaw as preparation?
Bonding involves opening and closing to check the bite, rather than holding open as long. Ask what to expect for your tooth.
Could clenching affect my new restoration?
Yes, heavy bite forces and grinding influence how a restoration holds up. Let the dentist know if you think you clench.
Will freezing help my jaw as well as my tooth?
Local anesthetic numbs the tooth and surrounding area, but it is not meant to rest the jaw muscles. Breaks are the better way to manage jaw fatigue.
How can someone in Pembina mention jaw trouble when requesting a visit?
Add a note in the request form or say so when you call (204) 338-3003. You will be seen at Unit 5, 2358 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6 once a time is set.
Related services
Pages that may help with the bigger picture.
These explain other treatments that can come up when a back tooth needs restoring.
Dental Crowns
Learn how custom dental crowns in Winnipeg protect cracked, worn or root canal-treated teeth while restoring comfortable function, shape and appearance.
Explore serviceDental Fillings
Restore cavities, chips and worn areas with tooth-coloured dental fillings in Winnipeg. Learn when repair is needed and what happens during treatment.
Explore serviceGeneral Dentistry
Explore general dentistry in Winnipeg for check-ups, cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, emergencies and children’s dental care.
Explore serviceHave an urgent concern? Call (204) 338-3003 to discuss availability.
Plan with your jaw in mind
Tell us about your jaw when you ask.
Mention your jaw in a request for our Winnipeg clinic, and the front desk will be in contact about a time. Phone if the tooth or jaw can’t wait.