Which surfaces are covered by a mesio-occlusal inlay?

A mesio-occlusal inlay specifically refers to the areas of a tooth that are being restored through an inlay that clinically addresses both the occlusal surface and the mesial surface of a posterior tooth.

The occlusal surface is the top part of the tooth that comes into contact with opposing teeth during chewing. The mesial surface refers to the side of the tooth that is closest to the midline of the dental arch. An inlay designed to cover these two surfaces ensures that the functional and esthetic aspects of the tooth are effectively restored.

In this context, both the occlusal and proximal (which encompasses both mesial and distal surfaces) areas are crucial for proper dental restoration. However, in the specific designation of a mesio-occlusal inlay, it is the combination of the mesial and occlusal surfaces that is relevant to the function and location of the restoration. This makes the designation accurate for understanding the coverage areas of this specific type of inlay.