Re: Differences: composites, inlays/onlays, crowns

all fillings are techically called composites, no matter what type.  but, we refer to white fillings as composites.  of those, there are direct and indirect.  direct is a mixture the dentist does there while you sit and it adheres directly to the tooth and is cured by the dentist.  indirect fillings, an impression is taken by the dentist.  that impression is either sent to a lab or done by the dentist's lab or machine (i.e., cad/cam such as cerec).  indirect fillings are called inlays and onlays.  examples are gold fillings, porcelain fillings, mercury amalgam fillings, and there is alos a composite material dentists can use to make an indirect filling.  while direct fillings bond very well to teeth, indirect do not, and the metal ones depend on undercuts to make them stay in well.  indirect fillings depend on more tooth structure removed than a composite and thus, are not generally the best choice for a small filling.