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Glite Dictionary
🪑 A surface decoration 🦷 A tooth cover 🖌️ To apply a layer
onlay

onlay

7.9
A hard piece that covers part of a tooth to repair damage
  • noun
  • /ˈɒnleɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : inlay
  • The dentist placed an onlay to restore the strength of the broken tooth.

Examples

  • After examining the cavity, she recommended an onlay instead of a full crown.

  • After the procedure, the onlay felt comfortable.

  • A ceramic onlay can blend in naturally with the rest of your teeth.

  • The dentist recommended an onlay to restore the damaged tooth.

  • The dentist recommended an onlay to restore the damaged cusp of my molar.

  • After examining the decay, the orthodontist suggested an onlay for better tooth restoration.

  • She decided to get an onlay instead of a crown because it would preserve more of the original tooth.

How Much

crown
  • Specialized
13 6.2
onlay
  • Specialized
7.9
inlay
  • Specialized
2 7.9

Surface Forms

onlay singular
onlays plural

Morphology

onlay = lay (semi-transparent) = on + lay

Morphologically clear ('on-' + 'lay'), but the specialized dental meaning (covering one or more cusps) is technical and may not be fully inferable to an average learner.

Etymology

Onlay comes from the parts on- 'on' and lay 'to place', so think of a small cap 'laid on' a damaged part of a tooth to cover and protect it. That's why a dental onlay is a piece placed on one or more cusps to repair and strengthen the tooth.