Onlay Restorations in Salt Lake City, UT

Onlay Restorations That Rebuild Your Smile

You get the perfect middle ground between fillings and crowns, preserving healthy tooth structure while providing strong protection. Our onlay treatments restore damaged teeth with precision and lasting beauty.
  • Conservative Treatment: You preserve more natural tooth structure than with crowns while getting stronger protection than traditional fillings.
  • Custom Precision: Your onlay is laboratory-crafted for an exact fit that restores proper bite and function.
  • Durable Beauty: Your restoration provides years of reliable strength with a natural appearance that blends seamlessly.
550+

4.9+

Rating on Google

Patient Stories

Hear From the Families We Serve

Our patients become part of our family, and their stories showcase the life-changing impact of compassionate, expert care. See how the right dental treatment transforms not just smiles, but entire lives.

Sherrie Kelsch

I can chew again thanks to Dr. Sam’s amazing implant work.

Carol Coulter

Finally, I smile easily thanks to this amazing staff and dentist

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Deb Pulsipher

Today I smile confidently thanks to having real teeth again.

Extended Custom Tooth Coverage

What Are Onlay Restorations?

An onlay restoration, sometimes called a partial crown, is a custom-made filling that covers one or more cusps (chewing points) of your tooth. When decay or damage extends beyond what a regular filling can handle but doesn’t require a full crown, an onlay provides the ideal solution. At Canyon Rim Dental in Salt Lake City, onlays offer a conservative approach to restoring your tooth’s strength and function.

Like inlays, onlays are precisely crafted in a dental laboratory using impressions of your prepared tooth. The key difference is that onlays extend over the chewing surface of your tooth, providing additional coverage and protection where you need it most while preserving healthy tooth structure.
  • Covers damaged cusps while preserving healthy tooth structure
  • Custom laboratory-made for perfect fit and function
  • More conservative alternative to full crowns

Save Your Tooth Structure Now

Your tooth receives durable protection while keeping more of your healthy natural tooth intact.
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Restore Damaged Teeth with Precision

Benefits of Onlay Restorations

Onlay restorations repair extensively damaged teeth with custom porcelain pieces that cover the chewing surface. You get strength and beauty that surpasses your original tooth.
  • Save Severely Damaged Teeth: Onlays can restore teeth too damaged for regular fillings but not damaged enough to need crowns. You avoid extraction while getting a strong, lasting solution.
  • Eliminate Pain from Cracked Teeth: Onlays hold cracked teeth together and prevent further splitting, eliminating the sharp pain that occurs when you bite down. You can chew comfortably again.
  • Get Superior Strength and Durability: Porcelain onlays are stronger than large composite fillings and can withstand heavy chewing forces. Your restored tooth becomes more resilient than it was originally.
  • Avoid Repeated Dental Appointments: Instead of replacing large fillings every few years, one onlay provides decades of reliable service. You'll spend less time in the dental chair over your lifetime.
  • Protect Against Future Fractures: The onlay covers and reinforces weak areas of your tooth, preventing cracks from spreading. You won't worry about sudden tooth breakage during meals.
  • Maintain Perfect Bite Alignment: Custom-crafted onlays restore your tooth's original shape and chewing surface exactly. Your bite feels natural and balanced, preventing jaw strain and other teeth from wearing prematurely.

Book Your Onlay Evaluation Today

Find out if onlays can restore your damaged teeth to full strength and beauty.
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800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

800+

Smiles Restored

100+

Services Offered

98%

Satisfaction Rate

4.9

Average Rating

600+

Implants Placed

2700+

Lives Changed Last Year

Your Onlay Solution Explained

Who Are Onlay Restorations For?

Extensive tooth damage doesn’t mean you have to lose the tooth entirely, and you have options beyond full crowns. You might be ideal for onlay restorations if you need significant repair while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.

Extensive Damage

You have large areas of decay or damage that affect multiple surfaces of your tooth, including the chewing surface and sides.

Conservative Treatment

You want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible while still getting the durability and protection of a custom restoration.

Cusp Replacement

You have broken or worn-down tooth cusps (the pointed parts of your back teeth) that need rebuilding to restore proper chewing function.

Do Any of These Situations Sound Familiar to You?

  • Large Broken Filling: Your filling covers most of your tooth's chewing surface and has cracked or fallen out, leaving extensive damage behind.
  • Fractured Cusp: Part of your tooth has broken off, affecting how you bite and chew while causing sharp edges that cut your tongue.
  • Multiple Surface Decay: Cavities affect several sides of the same tooth, requiring more extensive repair than a simple filling can provide.
  • Grinding Damage: Years of teeth grinding have flattened or worn away the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, affecting your bite.
  • Avoiding Full Crowns: You want effective tooth repair but prefer to keep more of your natural tooth structure instead of a complete crown.
  • Repeated Filling Failures: The same tooth keeps needing new fillings because the damage is too extensive for traditional restorations to last.

Save Your Damaged Tooth Now

Your tooth needs conservative repair that's stronger than a filling and preserves more natural structure.
Request an appointment
Call us now

Partial Crown Solution

Our Onlay Restoration Process

When your tooth needs more than a filling but less than a full crown, onlays provide the perfect solution. 
Here’s how we restore your tooth’s function and appearance with custom onlay restorations.
1

Precise Tooth Preparation

We remove the damaged portions of your tooth, including any compromised cusps, while preserving all healthy tooth structure. This conservative approach allows us to strengthen your tooth without the extensive preparation required for a full crown.
2

Custom Laboratory Crafting

Working from detailed impressions, our dental laboratory creates your onlay using high-quality materials that match your natural teeth. The precise fit and natural appearance ensure your restoration will blend seamlessly with your smile while providing years of reliable function.
3

Expert Bonding Process

We permanently bond your onlay using advanced adhesive technology that creates a strong, lasting seal. After careful fitting and bite adjustments, your restored tooth functions naturally while protecting the remaining healthy tooth structure from further damage.

Save Your Tooth Now

Protect and strengthen your damaged tooth with a conservative onlay that looks completely natural.
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The Guide Will Show You

  • Dental Implant Options
  • Average Pricing
  • Factors That Affect Eligibility
  • And More!

Download our Dental Implant Pricing & Information Guide!

Fill out the form below and we will email/text you the guide along with a $250 savings offer!

The Guide Will Show You

  • Dental Implant Options
  • Average Pricing
  • Factors That Affect Eligibility
  • And More!

Custom Onlay Protection

Strengthen Your Damaged 
Tooth Permanently

You receive a custom-made restoration that covers and protects your tooth’s damaged areas. Our onlays provide exceptional strength while maintaining the natural beauty of your smile.
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Before & After Transformations

Creating Beautiful Smiles That Last

These transformations showcase our expertise in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and comprehensive smile makeovers using advanced technology like CEREC crowns. Each result represents restored confidence and the personalized care that makes Canyon Rim Dental patients feel like family.

Before

After

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After

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After

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After

Be our Next Success Story!

Request an appointment with one of our doctors and start your smile journey today.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Onlay Restoration FAQs

Onlay restorations provide comprehensive protection for damaged teeth while maintaining a conservative approach. At Canyon Rim Dental, you’ll receive expertly crafted onlays that restore strength and natural appearance to your smile.

What is an onlay restoration?

An onlay is a custom-made restoration that covers one or more cusps (the chewing points) of your tooth, extending beyond what an inlay would cover. Sometimes called a “partial crown,” onlays are crafted in a dental laboratory from durable materials like porcelain, then permanently bonded to your tooth for long-lasting protection and function.
While inlays fit within the cusps of your tooth like a puzzle piece, onlays extend over one or more cusps to provide greater coverage and protection. Think of an inlay as filling the interior space of your tooth, while an onlay also caps the chewing surfaces. Onlays are used when damage extends to the cusps themselves.
Onlays are ideal when your tooth needs more protection than an inlay can provide but doesn’t require the full coverage of a crown. They’re perfect for teeth with damage to the cusps from decay, fractures, or large failing fillings. Onlays preserve more healthy tooth structure than crowns while still providing comprehensive protection.
Onlays offer several advantages: they preserve more of your natural tooth structure than crowns, provide excellent durability and aesthetics, and offer a precise fit that helps prevent future decay. They’re also more conservative than crowns while providing superior strength and longevity compared to large fillings that might fail over time.
Getting an onlay typically requires two appointments spaced about two weeks apart. During your first visit, we’ll prepare your tooth and take detailed impressions for the laboratory. You’ll wear a temporary restoration while your custom onlay is being crafted. At your second appointment, we’ll permanently bond your finished onlay in place.
We primarily use high-quality porcelain for onlays because it provides excellent aesthetics, durability, and biocompatibility. Porcelain can be perfectly matched to your natural tooth color and translucency, creating seamless results. The material is also highly resistant to staining and wear, ensuring your restoration looks great for years to come.
With proper care and maintenance, porcelain onlays can last 15-20 years or longer. Their longevity often exceeds that of large fillings while providing better protection for your tooth. Factors affecting lifespan include your oral hygiene habits, diet, and whether you grind or clench your teeth. Regular dental visits help maximize their durability.
Absolutely! Our laboratory technicians craft each onlay to precisely match your tooth’s natural color, shape, and surface texture. The result blends so seamlessly with your surrounding teeth that the restoration becomes virtually invisible. Even you may forget which tooth has the onlay after it’s placed.
Caring for your onlay is straightforward – simply maintain good oral hygiene with regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings. Avoid using your teeth as tools or chewing on very hard objects like ice. If you grind your teeth at night, we may recommend a protective nightguard to prevent damage.
While the onlay itself cannot be whitened, we can replace it if you want to change the color after teeth whitening treatments. If you’re considering whitening, it’s best to do this before getting your onlay so we can match it to your desired shade. Onlays can also be replaced if they become damaged or if you want to update their appearance.

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Membership Plan

When Insurance Falls Short, Your Smile Doesn't Have To

You deserve quality dental care that fits your budget. The Canyon Rim Dental Membership Plan makes it possible to get the treatment you need without the complexity of insurance or financial stress.

In-House Membership Plan

$379/yr (adult)
Family Plan Discount Available
  • Save $269 annually compared to paying out-of-pocket for your essential dental care
  • Two 21-Point Signature Cleanings using advanced techniques to detect problems early and prevent costly treatments
  • Comprehensive diagnostic X-rays and exams twice yearly to monitor your oral health thoroughly
  • Two fluoride treatments included to strengthen enamel and reverse early signs of decay
  • 15% discount on all dental treatments from root canals to cosmetic procedures year-round
  • $500 exclusive savings on SureSmile® clear aligners instead of the standard 15% discount
  • Skip waiting periods, deductibles, maximums, and claim denials
  • Family discount options available to protect your entire household's dental health affordably
  • Additional 5% cash/check discount at time of service for even greater savings

Join Today and Start Saving Immediately.

Call Us Today or ask about enrollment at your next visit—because quality dental care shouldn't be complicated or expensive.
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Financing Options

Get Your Treatment Now, Pay Later!

Quality dental care shouldn’t wait because of cost concerns. Our flexible financing plans and in-house membership options make it easy to get the treatment you deserve without financial stress.
Your dental health shouldn’t wait because of financial concerns. With CareCredit, you can begin your treatment today and pay over time through convenient monthly payment plans. Qualifying patients can take advantage of special promotional financing with 0% interest options, making it easier to budget for the care you need.
Get Pre-Qualified

NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.

Start Your Smile Journey Now with Flexible Payment Options.

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Advanced Technology

High-Tech Treatment for Superior Results

Our Salt Lake City office is equipped with the latest dental technology to deliver the highest quality results.

At Canyon Rim Dental, we leverage cutting-edge technology to transform your dental experience. Our CEREC® same-day system creates custom crowns, veneers, and restorations in a single visit, eliminating temporary crowns and multiple appointments. Computer-guided implant surgery ensures precise placement for optimal results and faster healing. Digital imaging and 3D scanning provide detailed views for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Advanced materials and techniques minimize discomfort while maximizing precision. This technology allows us to deliver exceptional care efficiently, reducing treatment time while improving outcomes. Every innovation we adopt serves one purpose: enhancing your comfort and confidence throughout your dental journey.
  • Same-day crowns and restorations with CEREC® technology
  • Computer-guided surgery for precise implant placement
  • Digital scanning for comfortable, accurate impressions
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Meet the Doctors

Experienced Dentists Who Treat You Like Family

Dr. Sam Delahunty and Dr. Mark Soffe bring decades of combined expertise and a genuine commitment to personalized care. You’ll experience their dedication to excellence alongside the warmth and compassion that makes every visit comfortable.

Dr. Sam Delahunty

DDS
A Salt Lake City native with specialized training in complex restorations and dental implants from his prestigious hospital residency. Dr. Delahunty graduated in the top 5% of his dental class and carries on a multi-generational legacy of exceptional dental care in the community.
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Dr. Joseph W. Stobbe Jr

DDS, MDS
Dr. Joseph W. Stobbe Jr. brings over 40 years of dental excellence and Master-level expertise to Canyon Rim Dental. He completed his service as a U.S. Navy veteran and earned the highest honor in general dentistry as a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry.
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Dr. Mark Soffe

DDS
Born and raised in Utah with advanced training in biochemistry before earning his dental degree from the University of Utah. Dr. Soffe is passionate about helping patients achieve both optimal oral health and cosmetically pleasing results, believing everyone deserves fantastic dental care.
More About Dr. Soffe

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Experience personalized dental care designed to help you achieve your dream smile.
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Patient Testimonials

Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews Tell Our Story

From their very first visit, our patients often express that they feel like part of our family. These heartfelt stories truly reflect our unwavering commitment to providing compassionate care and achieving life-changing results for everyone.
I’ve never had a more enjoyable dentist experience than I did at Canyon Rim Dental. I had my new patient visit + cleaning today, and I am amazed at the kind of quality care they gave me. Shanna was my hygienist and performed the perfect balance of gentle but thorough cleaning. “Dr. Sam” was kind and informative when reviewing the visit with me. The office is equipped with the latest innovations in dentistry equipment, including AI assistance for analyzing patient X-rays. I felt like I was given the highest level of care, and I am actually looking forward to my next visit!
Amy Ward
7 months ago
Dr. Sam Delahunty is a master! He has cared for my teeth for years and he is extremely meticulous, gentle, and kind. I recommend him for everyone including children! He has invested in the very latest technology to ensure the more comfortable, efficient, and affordable dental care. Dr. Sam is amazing!!!
Carolyn Sharette
7 months ago
They were amazing for me as a new patient! Staff were very warm and friendly and clear with communication. They have an intake survey that asks what they can do to make dental work more comfortable for you and your level of dental anxiety, which is awesome! I’m very glad to have found this place 🙂
Sami Rackman
9 months ago
I loved all of the staff. There were very kind and understanding. They let me know in details that I could understand as well as answered various questions I had. It had been at least two years since seeing a dentist and I was looking for one I could see since I got a new insurance. I also went in for a suspected cavity I may have had due to some pain that I was having for over a month. They checked as well as told me I needed to have a root canal procedure. They told me after they got some of it done that they still have some more time for me to finish the temporary crown until the final part. I really appreciate this
ACLAFE011
11 months ago
I have been a terrible adult and neglected finding a dentist since I left the Kent, WA area in 2016 (don’t tell my wonderful dentist there he would be so disappointed in me) Shor story is it’s now 2025 and I wish I would have search sooner. DR. SAM DELAHUNTY performed a what felt to me like a complex root canal therapy for me today in not only a professional manner and expedient manner but also with kindness and care that you really want when people are drilling around sensitive nerves. He answered any questions I had and even followed up later with me in the evening. I have plenty more work for their team ( don’t neglect your teeth cleanings kids) and i am nothing but excited to return for the offices services. I wish i would have caught the names of all the staff in the office they are always so friendly. Cannot recommend this office more.
Chase Pinkney
8 months ago
After 15 years away from the dentist, I had a great experience getting my wisdom teeth removed—quick, painless, and very comfortable, with a smooth healing process. The staff and Dr. Sam were wonderful!
Sydney Corbin
8 months ago

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Our Location

Conveniently Located in Salt Lake City

Our practice is conveniently located near the corner of 3300 S and S Oakwood St, just a short distance from I-215. For generations, we’ve proudly served the Canyon Rim neighborhood and the greater Salt Lake City communities, building lasting relationships with our patients.
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Dental Blog

Expert Tips, Healthy Smiles

Our blog offers insights on dental implants, treatment options, and oral health. Discover topics like recovery time, bone grafting, and full mouth restoration, all crafted by our dental experts to help you make informed decisions about your care.
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Advanced Protection

Strengthen Your Teeth Without Full Crowns

Onlay restorations rebuild your damaged teeth using a conservative approach, protecting what’s left while restoring full function and natural beauty.
  • Rebuild damaged teeth without removing healthy structure
  • Get stronger protection than regular fillings
  • Maintain your natural bite and comfort
Request an appointment
Call us now

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