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Published September 2026

1 of 5The cavity is wider than a filling handles well, but the tooth does not need a full crown
  1. The cavity is wider than a filling handles well, but the tooth does not need a full crown
  2. Numbed. The decay is removed and the space is shaped with smooth walls
  3. A scan or an impression records the exact shape of the space
  4. A lab, or a mill in the office, makes one solid piece to match it
  5. The piece is cemented in and the bite is checked

Who usually does it

general dentist. Done in the general office with a lab or a same-day milling machine.

One question worth asking

What makes this the better fit than a regular filling or a full crown?

Porcelain inlay, one surface

FillingsUpgradeD2610

D2610. A tooth-colored ceramic inlay covering one surface; plans often pay the filling rate. Some plans call this an optional service or an alternate benefit. The plan pays what the standard version costs. You pay the difference.

An inlay or onlay is a filling made in a lab and then cemented into the tooth, used when a cavity is too big for a regular filling but the tooth does not need a full crown. An inlay sits inside the tooth; an onlay also covers one or more cusps. Codes differ by material and by how many surfaces are covered.

An impression or scan goes to a lab, or to a milling machine in the office, and the finished piece is cemented into the prepared tooth. An inlay sits within the walls of the tooth; an onlay also covers one or more of the raised points of the tooth. Codes split by material and by how many surfaces are covered. Most plans file this as Major. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Codes for this

D2510UpgradeMetal inlay, one surfaceA gold or metal inlay covering one surface; plans often pay the filling rate.per surface · Rarely doneD2520UpgradeMetal inlay, two surfacesA metal inlay covering two surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2530UpgradeMetal inlay, three or more surfacesA metal inlay covering three or more surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2542MajorMetal onlay, two surfacesA metal onlay that also covers a cusp, two surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2543MajorMetal onlay, three surfacesA metal onlay covering three surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2544MajorMetal onlay, four or more surfacesA metal onlay covering most of the tooth.per surface · Rarely doneD2610UpgradePorcelain inlay, one surfaceA tooth-colored ceramic inlay covering one surface; plans often pay the filling rate.per surface · Done sometimesD2620UpgradePorcelain inlay, two surfacesA ceramic inlay covering two surfaces.per surface · Done sometimesD2630UpgradePorcelain inlay, three or more surfacesA ceramic inlay covering three or more surfaces.per surface · Done sometimesD2642MajorPorcelain onlay, two surfacesA ceramic onlay covering a cusp and two surfaces.per surface · Done sometimesD2643MajorPorcelain onlay, three surfacesA ceramic onlay covering three surfaces; the most common onlay code.per surface · Done sometimesD2644MajorPorcelain onlay, four or more surfacesA ceramic onlay covering most of the tooth.per surface · Done sometimesD2650UpgradeLab-made resin inlay, one surfaceA resin inlay made in a lab, one surface; plans often pay the filling rate.per surface · Rarely doneD2651UpgradeLab-made resin inlay, two surfacesA lab-made resin inlay covering two surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2652UpgradeLab-made resin inlay, three or more surfacesA lab-made resin inlay covering three or more surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2662MajorLab-made resin onlay, two surfacesA lab-made resin onlay covering two surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2663MajorLab-made resin onlay, three surfacesA lab-made resin onlay covering three surfaces.per surface · Rarely doneD2664MajorLab-made resin onlay, four or more surfacesA lab-made resin onlay covering most of the tooth.per surface · Rarely doneD2910BasicRe-cementing an inlay, onlay or veneerGlues an existing inlay, onlay, veneer or partial crown back on; no new piece is made.per tooth · Done sometimesD2981BasicInlay repairRepairs a chipped inlay instead of replacing it.per tooth · Rarely doneD2982BasicOnlay repairRepairs a chipped onlay instead of replacing it.per tooth · Rarely done

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Porcelain inlay, one surface (D2610): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar