The clinical performance of ceramic inlays: A review

The availability of improved ceramic materials, bonding techniques, new tec hnology and issues of amalgam safety have Led to a revival of interest in c eramic inlays in dentistry over the past ten years. Clinical studies have b een carried out during;this time using various evaluation techniques to ass ess the clinical performance of these restorations. : In this paper, recent clinical studies are examined and a review of the cur rent; state of knowledge regarding the clinical performance and survival st atistics of ceramic inlays is presented. The major problems associated with ceramic inlay therapy appear to be fracture, hypersensitivity, degree of f it, maintenance of marginal integrity, microleakage, bond failures and ceme nt wear. Other areas-which also affect the clinical performance of ceramic inlays are ceramic wear, opposing tooth wear plaque accumulation, gingiviti s, secondary caries colour stability, anatomic form and radiopacity. Recommendations based on the findings of clinical studies are also presente d and whilst no Specific material or technique has been shown to be clearly superior, certain principles which predispose to success can be identified . When compared with other forms of aesthetic intracoronal restorations, cera mic inlays perform well. However, their high cost and extreme technique sen sitivity would appear to restrict their use to certain limited clinical Sit uations.