inlay

An inlay is a decorative technique in which pieces of a contrasting material are set into a base material to form a pattern or image. The inserted pieces, called inlays, are cut to fit tightly and sit flush with the surface. The base is usually wood, stone, metal, or ceramic, and the design can be geometric or representational. Inlay work is created by removing shallow channels or mortises in the base and then inserting the cut pieces and securing them with glue or a binding material; the surface is then planed and polished to a smooth finish.

Common in woodworking and furniture, inlays are also used in musical instruments, tiles, mosaics, and architecture. Materials range from natural substances such as mother-of-pearl, ivory, bone, and semiprecious stones to metals, glass, and modern resins. Inlay differs from marquetry and parquetry in that the design is formed by inserted pieces rather than surface veneers; intarsia is related but uses cut elements within a patchwork surface to create a mosaic-like image.

In dentistry, an inlay is an indirect restoration fitted to a prepared cavity and cemented in place. Materials include gold, composite resin, and ceramics; an onlay covers more of the tooth surface, and both are alternatives to fillings or crowns.