Cad/cam Ceramics The Digital Era

Ceramic materials have been used in dentistry for well over 200 years. They are the most biocompatible dental restorative materials, chemically very stable. A desirable feature of ceramics is that their appearance can be customized to simulate the colour, translucency and fluorescence of natural teeth. A major problem with ceramics is its structure only exhibits a very low flexibility before fracture. Newer ceramic materials and innovative ceramic processing techniques have been introduced in restorative dentistry since the early 1980's. recent advances includes; the advent of predictable ceramic materials and techniques for esthetic complete crowns, partial coverage and laminate veneer restorations; improved metal ceramic esthetics with the advent of opalescent porcelains and framework modifications; Introduction of CAD/CAM and machining as a route to fabrication of restorations; improved understanding of the clinical response of all ceramic prostheses and of the material factors that influence clinical longevity.