Superhard material enhanced inserts include a body portion adapted for attachment to the earth-boring bit and a top portion for contacting an earthen formation to be drilled. The top portion includes a substrate and a layer of superhard material over a portion of the substrate other than in the outer lateral face. For example, superhard material is provided on the leading edge, the leading face, the crest, the trailing edge, and the trailing face, but not on a portion of the outer lateral face of the top portion. Suitable superhard materials include boron nitride and diamond.