Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • General
  • Published:

Ceramics overview

British Dental Journal volume 232, pages 658–663 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Ceramic materials have rapidly become the material of choice for indirect restorations. There are a variety of material types available for use such as feldspathic ceramics, glass ceramics and many types of zirconia. Advances in digital dentistry led to a rapid switch from porcelain fused to metal restorations to all-ceramic restorations. Variations in composition, microstructure and processing affect mechanical properties and use of these materials. Having a better understanding of their differences is important for proper clinical selection. Ceramic materials may be classified several ways including by composition, microstructure, processing technique and clinical application. This article reviews the various types of ceramics based on structure and properties that relate to clinical selection. After reading this article, the reader should be able to: explain the types of ceramics in use in dentistry; understand clinical selection based on properties; and discuss the differences in zirconia-based ceramics.

Key points

  • Reviews the types of ceramics available for clinical use.

  • Classifies ceramics based on an ISO standard that provides guidelines for clinical use centred on flexural strength.

  • Describes the differences between zirconia materials and their clinical use.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kingery W D, Bowen H K, Uhlmann D R. Introduction to Ceramics. 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1976.

  2. Talibi M, Kaur K, Patanwala H S, Parmar H. Do you know your ceramics? Part 1: classification. Br Dent J 2022; 232: 27-32.

  3. Talibi M, Kaur K, Parmar H. Do you know your ceramics? Part 2: feldspathic ceramics. Br Dent J 2022; 232: 80-83.

  4. Gracis S, Thompson V P, Ferencz J L, Silva N R, Bonfante E A. A new classification system for all-ceramic and ceramic-like restorative materials. Int J Prosthodont 2015; 28: 227-235.

  5. ISO 6872. Dentistry - Ceramic materials. 2015.

  6. Otto T. CEREC restorations. CEREC inlays and onlays: the clinical results and experiences after 6 years of use in private practice. Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnmed 1995; 105: 1038-1046.

  7. Reiss B, Walther W. Überlebensanalyse und klinische Nachuntersuchungen von zahnfarbenen Einlagefüllungen nach dem CEREC-Verfahren. Zahnaerztl Welt 1992; 100: 329-332.

  8. Heymann H O, Bayne S C, Sturdevant J R et al. The clinical performance of CADCAMgenerated ceramic inlays: a four-year study. J Am Dent Assoc 1996; 127: 1171-1181.

  9. Reiss B, Walther W. Clinical long-term results and 10-year Kaplan-Meier analysis of Cerec restorations. Int J Comput Dent 2000; 3: 9-23.

  10. McLaren E A, Giordano R A. Zirconia-based ceramics: material properties, esthetics, and layering techniques of a new veneering porcelain, VM9. Quintessence Dent Technol 2005; 28: 99-111.

  11. Deubener J, Allix M, Davis M et al. Updated definition of glass-ceramics. J Non Crystall Solids 2018; 501: 3-10.

  12. Grossman D G. Tetrasilicic mica glass-ceramic material. U.S. Patent No. 3732087. 1973.

  13. Ellison J A, Lugassy A A, Setcos J C, Moffa J P. Clinical trial of cast glass ceramic crowns, seven year findings. J Dent Res 1992; 71: 207.

  14. Malament K A, Grossman DG: Bonded versus non-bonded Dicor crowns. J Dent Res 1992; 71: 321.

  15. Vohra F, Altwaim M, Alshuwaier A S et al. Influence of Bioactive, Resin and Glass Ionomer luting cements on the fracture loads of dentin bonded ceramic crowns. Pak J Med Sci 2020; 36: 416-421.

  16. Serbena F C, Zanotto E D. Internal residual stresses in glass-ceramics: A review. J Non Crystall Solids 2012; 358: 975-984.

  17. Wagner J, Hiller K A, Schmalz G. Long-term clinical performance and longevity of gold alloy vs ceramic partial crowns. Clin Oral Investig 2003; 7: 80-85.

  18. Brochu J F, El-Mowafy O. Longevity and clinical performance of IPS-Empress ceramic restorations - a literature review. J Can Dent Assoc 2002; 68: 233-237.

  19. Kraemer N, Frankenberger R. Clinical performance of bonded leucite-reinforced glass ceramic inlays and onlays after 8 years. Dent Mater 2005; 21: 262-271.

  20. Manhart J, Chen H Y, Neuerer P et al. Thre-year clinical evaluation of composite and ceramic inlays. Am J Dent 2001; 14: 95-99.

  21. van Dijken J W, Hasselrot L, Ormin A et al. Restorations with extensive dentin/enamel-bonded ceramic coverage. A 5-year follow-up. Eur J Oral Sci 2001; 109: 222-229.

  22. Höland W, Rheinberger V, Apel E et al. Clinical applications of glass-ceramics in dentistry. J Mater Sci Mater Med 2006; 17: 1037-1042.

  23. Lien W, Roberts H W, Platt J A, Vandewalle K S, Hill T J, Chu T-M G. Microstructural evolution and physical behaviour of a lithium disilicate glass ceramic. Dent Mater 2015; 31: 928-940.

  24. Guazzato M, Albakry M, Ringer S P et al. Strength, fracture toughness and microstructure of a selection of all-ceramic materials. Part I. Pressable and alumina glass-infiltrated ceramics. Dent Mater 2004; 20: 441-448.

  25. Albakry M, Guazzato M, Swain M V. Biaxial flexural strength, elastic moduli, and x-ray diffraction characterization of three pressable all-ceramic material. J Prosthet Dent 2003; 89: 374-380.

  26. Hoeland W, Schweiger M, Frank M et al. A comparison of the microstructure and properties of the IPS Empress 2 and the IPS Empress glass ceramics. J Biomed Mater Res 2000; 53: 297-303.

  27. Della Bona A, Mecholsky Jr J J, Anusavice K J. Fracture behaviour of Lithia disilicate and leucite based ceramics. Dent Mater 2004; 20: 956-962.

  28. Lubauer J, Belli R, Peterlik H, Hurle K, Lohbauer U. Grasping the Lithium hype: Insights into modern dental Lithium Silicate glass-ceramics. Dent Mater 2022; 38: 318-332.

  29. Clarke D. Interpenetrating phase composites. J Am Ceram Soc 1992; 75: 739-759.

  30. Denry I, Kelly J R. Emerging ceramic-based materials for dentistry. J Dent Res 2014; 93: 1235-1242.

  31. Proebster L. Survival rate of In-Ceram restorations. Int J Prosthodont 1993; 6: 259-263.

  32. Scotti R, Catapano S, D'Elia A. A clinical evaluation of In-Ceram crowns. Int J Prosthodont 1995; 8: 320-323.

  33. Guazzato M, Albakry M, Swain M V, Ironside J. Mechanical properties of In-Ceram Alumina and In-Ceram Zirconia. Int J Prosthodont 2002; 15: 339-346.

  34. Coldea A, Swain M V, Thiel N. Mechanical properties of polymerinfiltratedceramic-network materials. Dent Mater 2013; 29: 419-426.

  35. Coldea A, Swain M V, Thiel N. In-vitro strength degradation of dental ceramics and novel PICN material by sharp indentation. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2013; 26: 34-42.

  36. Finelle G, Lee S J. Guided Immediate Implant Placement with Wound Closure by Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Assisted Manufacture Sealing Socket Abutment: Case Report. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2017; DOI: 10.11607/jomi.4770.

  37. He L H, Swain M. A novel polymer infiltrated ceramic dental material. Dent Mater 2011; 27: 527-534.

  38. Hegenbarth E A. Procera aluminium oxide ceramics: a new way to achieve stability, precision, and esthetics in all-ceramic restorations. Quintessence Dent Technol 1996; 20: 21-34.

  39. Green D J, Hannink R, Swain M V. Transformation Toughening of Ceramics. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1989.

  40. Piconi C, Maccauro G. Zirconia as a ceramic material. Biomaterials 1999; 20: 1-25.

  41. Lange F F. Transformation toughening: Part 3, experimental observations in the ZrO2-Y2O3 system. J Mat Sci 1982; 17: 240-246.

  42. Denry I, Kelly J R. State of the art of zirconia for dental applications. Dent Mater 2008; 24: 299-307.

  43. Giordano R, Sabrosa C E. Zirconia: Material Background and Clinical Application. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2010; 31: 710-715.

  44. Giordano R, McLaren E A. Ceramics Overview: Classification by Microstructure and Processing Methods. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2010; 31: 682-684.

  45. Guazzato M, Albakry M, Ringer S P et al. Strength, fracture toughness and microstructure of a selection of all-ceramic materials. Part II. Zirconia-based dental ceramics. Dent Mater 2004; 20: 449-456.

  46. Chevalier J, Cales B, Drouin M. Low-temperature aging of Y-TZP ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 1999; 82: 2150-2154.

  47. Lawson S. Environmental degradation of Zirconia ceramics. J Eur Ceram Soc 1995; 15: 485-502.

  48. Clarke I C, Manaka M, Green S M et al. Current status of zirconia used in total hip implants. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003; 85: 73-84.

  49. Chevalier J, Gremillard L, Virkar A V, Clarke D R. The Tetragona-Monoclinic Transformation in Zirconia: Lessons Learned and Future Trends. J Am Ceram Soc 2009; 92: 1901-1920.

  50. Klimke J, Trunec M, Krell A. Transparent tetragonal yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics: influence of scattering caused by birefringence. J Am Ceram Soc 2011; 94: 1850-1858.

  51. Inokoshi M, Shimizubata M, Nozaki K et al. Impact of sandblasting on the flexural strength of highly translucent zirconia. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 115: 104268.

  52. Mao L, Kaizer M, Zhao M, Guo B, Song Y, Zhang Y. Graded ultra-translucent zirconia (5Y-PSZ) for strength and functionalities. J Dent Res 2018; 97: 1222-1228.

  53. Blatz M, Vonderheide M, Conejo J. The effect of resin bonding on long-term success of high-strength ceramics. J Dent Res 2018; 97: 132-139.

  54. Kang S-H, Chang J, Son H-H. Flexural strength and microstructure of two lithium disilicate glass ceramics for CAD/CAM restoration in the dental clinic. Restor Dent Endod 2013; 38: 134.

  55. Campos F, Valandro L F, Feitosa S A et al. Adhesive cementation promotes higher fatigue resistance to zirconia crowns. Oper Dent 2017; 42: 215-224.

  56. Bulot D, Sadan A, Burgess J O, Blatz M B. Bond Strength of a Self-adhesive Universal Resin Cement to Lava Zirconia after Two Surface Treatments. J Dent Res 2005; 84(Spec Iss A): Abstract 0578.

  57. Papanagiotou H P, Morgano S M, Giordano R A et al. In vitro evaluation of low-temperature aging effects and finishing procedures on the flexural strength and structural stability of Y-TZP dental ceramics. J Prosthet Dent 2006; 96: 154-164.

  58. Pittayachawan P, McDonald A, Young A, Knowles J C. Flexural strength, fatigue life, and stress-induced phase transformation study of -TZP dental ceramic. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2009; 88: 366-377.

  59. Shijo Y, Shinya A, Gomi H et al. Studies on mechanical strength, thermal expansion of layering porcelains to alumina and zirconia ceramic core materials. Dent Mater J 2009; 28: 352-361.

  60. Park S, Quinn J B, Romberg E, Arola D. On the brittleness of enamel and selected dental materials. Dent Mater 2008; 24: 1477-1485.

  61. Lohbauer U, Reich S. Antagonist wear of monolithic zirconia crowns after 2 years. Clin Oral Investig 2017; 21: 1165-1172.

  62. Passos S P, Torrealba Y, Major P et al. In vitro wear behaviour of zirconia opposing enamel: a systematic review. J Prosthodont 2014; 23: 593-601.

  63. Solá-Ruíz M F, Baima-Moscardó A, Selva-Otaolaurruchi E et al. Wear in Antagonist Teeth Produced by Monolithic Zirconia Crowns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2020; 9: 997.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Assistant Dean and Director of Biomaterials, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Russell Giordano II

Authors
  1. Russell Giordano II
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Russell Giordano II.

Ethics declarations

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Giordano II, R. Ceramics overview. Br Dent J 232, 658–663 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4242-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4242-6

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links