Dental ceramics are a group of inorganic non-metallic materials that have been used for dental restoration for over 2 centuries. Modern dentistry offers several fundamentally different types of ceramics, and the choice between them depends on what is more important in a specific case: impeccable aesthetics or maximum strength.

A Little History

The first porcelain teeth were made as early as 1808, and industrial production of ceramic teeth began in 1833 in England. For a long time, ceramics were brittle and were mainly used for covering metallic frameworks. The real revolution took place in the second half of the 20th century, when metal-free structures appeared, able to withstand chewing loads without a metallic base.

Major Types of Dental Ceramics

In modern dentistry, ceramic materials are divided into several key groups, which differ in composition and application.

Glass ceramics (based on lithium disilicate)

This is perhaps the most popular material for aesthetic restorations. The basis is a glass matrix with lithium disilicate crystals.

• Pros. Perfectly imitates natural enamel, has good opacity and strength (350–460 MPa), suitable for crowns and veneers on front teeth.
• Cons. Relatively high cost, inferior in strength to zirconium.

Feldspathic ceramics

A classic material consisting of feldspar, quartz, and kaolin.

• Pros. Maximum natural aesthetics, used for covering frameworks and veneers.
• Cons. Low strength (100–120 MPa), prone to chipping, requires mandatory support of a metallic or ceramic framework.

Oxide ceramics (based on aluminum oxide)

A more durable material than feldspathic ceramics. Aluminum oxide transmits light well, but is inferior in aesthetics to lithium disilicate.

• Pros. Strength of about 600 MPa, good biocompatibility.
• Cons. Less transparent, used for crowns on chewing teeth and small bridges.

Zirconium dioxide

The king of strength among ceramic materials. This is a polycrystalline ceramic that does not contain a glass phase.

• Pros. Extremely high strength (up to 1000+ MPa), suitable for bridges of any length and chewing teeth.
• Cons. Less transparent than glass ceramics, so ceramic veneering is often used with front teeth.

Comparison Table

The Main Advantage Over Metal-Ceramics

The main aesthetic drawback of metal-ceramics is the transparency of the metallic framework through the ceramic layer. This can give teeth a bluish hue and create a gray line near the gums. Metal-free ceramics are completely free of this drawback: light passes through them just like through natural enamel, making the restoration indistinguishable from real teeth.

What to Remember

Any ceramics is not an eternal material. It can chip due to bruxism (tooth grinding), incorrect bite, or excessive loads. Moreover, ceramics require minimum tooth preparation (0.3–1.5 mm) to preserve the maximum amount of healthy tissue.

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