Inlays and onlays, explained honestly.
What they cost, how they compare to a filling or a crown, the risks, and the questions to ask. We never name a clinic.
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Are they worth considering?
Inlays and onlays in the UK privately commonly cost from about £300 to £1,000 each depending on the material, with the NHS Band 3 charge in England fixed at £332.10. They can cost less abroad. Their real value is that they repair a moderately damaged tooth while removing far less healthy structure than a crown, so the bigger question is often whether you have been offered the most conservative option.
Costs below are indicative ranges, reviewed August 2025, and vary by case and what a package includes. They are not a quote and not a promise of a result.
What they are, in plain terms.
Inlays and onlays are custom made restorations, usually ceramic, composite, or gold, that repair a tooth with more damage than a simple filling can handle but less than would require a full crown. An inlay fits within the chewing surface of the tooth; an onlay also covers one or more of the raised points, or cusps. They are made to fit your tooth, often in a lab, then bonded in place.
Who they tend to suit. People with a tooth that is too damaged for a filling but still has healthy structure worth keeping, often when about 40 to 60 percent of the tooth is affected.
Who they tend not to suit. Teeth with very little damage, where a filling will do, and teeth so broken down or root treated that a crown is genuinely needed. The right choice depends on how much sound tooth remains.
The price, honestly.
Abroad these can cost less, mostly because of lower labour and lab costs. Price depends on the material, with composite usually cheapest, ceramic in the middle, and gold the most expensive and longest lasting.
Indicative UK ranges, reviewed August 2025. Not a quote. For comparison, a private crown in the UK commonly runs from about £500 to £1,500. Abroad pricing varies, so we route you to Get Matched rather than quote a figure we cannot stand behind.
Always confirm in writing what a price covers and what is extra, and what currency you are billed in. Indicative ranges, reviewed 21 June 2026, not a quote.
What can go wrong.
Inlays and onlays are a conservative, well established restoration, but no dental work is free of risk.
Some sensitivity to hot and cold is common at first and usually settles. Lasting sensitivity can signal an issue with the fit or the nerve.
A poorly fitted or poorly bonded restoration can loosen or fall out, letting bacteria in underneath.
If the margins do not seal precisely, decay can develop beneath, which is hard to spot until advanced. Precision of fit matters.
If the tooth sustains more damage, an onlay may eventually need to be replaced by a crown.
These restorations rely on a precise fit and bite. If something feels high or rough after you fly home, getting it adjusted from another country is harder.
Six questions before you pay.
A safe clinic answers all six in writing and recommends the most conservative option that works. Being pushed toward a crown when an onlay would do is a warning sign. We never name clinics, so use these to judge any you are sent.
Aftercare, and what happens once you are home.
First days
Mild sensitivity is normal as the tooth settles. Avoid very hard or sticky foods on the new restoration at first.
First weeks
Any high spot in the bite should be adjusted. Sensitivity usually fades. The restoration should feel like part of the tooth.
Ongoing
Good brushing and flossing protect the margins where the restoration meets the tooth, the area most prone to new decay.
Long term
Ceramic lasts around 10 to 15 years and gold often longer, but all restorations eventually need checking and replacing.
If the restoration comes loose, feels high, or the tooth becomes sensitive after you are home, a local dentist may be reluctant to adjust another clinic's work. Agree the warranty and aftercare before you travel.
Standard travel insurance rarely covers elective dental work or its complications. Read the policy closely before you book.
Now you know what to ask, compare safely.
Send one brief and we route it to vetted clinics that meet the standards above. They return tailored plans and all in prices. You choose, with no pressure.
Free and no obligation. Accredited clinics only. We never sell your details.
How we make money: the guides are free and no clinic can pay to be named, ranked or recommended. We never name clinics. Get Matched is an optional service that helps keep the guides free and independent of any one clinic; using it is always your choice and you are never charged. How this works.
The things everyone asks.
What is the difference between an inlay, an onlay, and a crown?
An inlay sits within the chewing surface, an onlay also covers one or more cusps, and a crown caps the whole tooth. Inlays and onlays keep more natural tooth than a crown.
Are inlays and onlays better than a filling?
For a moderately damaged tooth they can be stronger and longer lasting than a large filling, but a small cavity is usually better served by a simple filling.
How long do they last?
Ceramic commonly lasts 10 to 15 years and gold often 20 years or more, with good hygiene. None are permanent.
Are they cheaper abroad?
They can be, mostly because of lower labour and lab costs. Pricing varies widely, so we route you to vetted clinics rather than quote a figure we cannot stand behind.
What if it comes loose once I am home?
Repairs are harder to arrange from another country. Agree the warranty and aftercare in writing before you travel.
Where to go next.
Treatment in Turkey
Guide liveHow medical travel works there, the accreditations to check, and the realistic trade offs.
What it costs
On this pageThe indicative price ranges, what drives them, and why abroad differs from home.
How to choose safely
On this pageThe six questions that separate a safe clinic from a risky one, and the red flags.
Related dental and cost guides are in production. In the meantime you can Get Matched or browse all procedures.
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