CERAMICS IN DENTISTRY - HISTORICAL ROOTS AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVES

This article presents a brief history of dental ceramics and offers pe rspectives on recent research aimed at the further development of cera mics for clinical use, at their evaluation and selection, and very imp ortantly, their clinical performance. Innovative ceramic materials and ceramics processing strategies that were introduced to restorative de ntistry since the early 1980s are discussed. Notable research is highl ighted regarding (1) wear of ceramics and opposing enamel, (2) polisha bility of porcelains, (3) influence of firing history on the thermal e xpansion of porcelains for metal ceramics, (4) machining and CAD/CAM a s fabrication methods for clinical restorations, (5) fit of ceramic re storations, (6) clinical failure mechanisms of all-ceramic prostheses, (7) chemical and thermal strengthening of dental ceramics, (8) intrao ral porcelain repair, and (9) criteria for selection of the various ce ramics available. It is found that strong scientific and collaborative foundations exist for the continued understanding and improvement of dental ceramic systems.