If the tooth itself is eligible for an inlay, an inlay is a better restoration. If it is not eligible, other restorations such as full crowns are available. For some patients, such as the elderly and those who like to eat hard foods, there is more wear and tear on the teeth and a restoration is needed. However, if the tooth itself is not broken and the nerve is not inflamed, it may not be too necessary to go for root treatment and go straight for an onlay restoration. This is because inlay restorations only require a small amount of tooth grinding, and if the affected tooth does not have nerve damage, a root canal is not necessary.