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# Inlay or Filling? A Comparison
- URL: https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/en/guide/inlay-or-filling/
- Published: 2026-04-14T08:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T11:01:06.000Z
- Description: Fill small defects, restore large ones with an inlay? When each solution makes sense – and what it costs.
- Author: Hassan Al-Johmani M.Sc.
- Tags: #t-zahnersatz-en, #lang-en, #ki-bild

A hole in a back tooth: is a filling enough, or is an inlay better? The answer depends mainly on the size of the defect.

In short

For small to medium defects, direct fillings made of composite or self-adhesive materials are a good choice. For large defects in the back teeth, a ceramic inlay is often more stable, better sealed and longer-lasting, because it is made outside the mouth for a precise fit.

|                           | Composite filling                        | Ceramic inlay                                              |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Defect size               | small to medium                          | medium to large                                            |
| Fabrication               | built up in layers directly in the mouth | made with CAD/CAM or in the laboratory                     |
| Marginal seal             | good                                     | very good                                                  |
| Wear resistance/stability | good                                     | very high                                                  |
| Appointments              | one                                      | usually two                                                |
| Statutory insurance       | covered depending on the material        | insurer pays the amount for a filling, the rest is private |

![Tooth-coloured ceramic inlay next to a model of a back tooth with a prepared cavity](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/content/images/size/w960/2026/10/rg-inlay.webp)![](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/assets/img/eu-ai/ai-generated-white.svg)

A ceramic inlay is fitted exactly into the prepared tooth.

## And what about onlays and partial crowns?

If cusps are weakened, they are covered as well – this is called an onlay or partial crown. This preserves more healthy tooth structure than a full crown.

Read more
- [Dental fillings in Nuremberg](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/en/dental-fillings-nuremberg/)
- [Amalgam ban: what does health insurance pay now?](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/en/guide/amalgam-ban-fillings/)
- [CAD/CAM restorations](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/en/cad-cam-ceramic-crowns-nuremberg/)

Book your appointment at the Zahnarztpraxis St. Peter – via [online booking](https://zahnarztpraxis-st-peter.de/en/book-appointment/) or by phone on [0911 554181](tel:+49911554181). You will find us at Hainstraße 25, 90461 Nürnberg (tram 6/10 to Scharrerstraße, patient parking via Scharrerstraße).

## Frequently asked questions

Does an inlay last longer than a filling?

For large defects, usually yes. Ceramic is very wear-resistant and colour-stable.

Does fitting an inlay hurt?

The preparation is done under anaesthesia; the fitting itself is painless.