Dental ceramics are a group of inorganic non-metallic materials that have been used for over 2 centuries to restore teeth. 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 back in 1808, and the industrial production of ceramic teeth began in 1833 in England. For a long time, ceramics were brittle and were mainly used for veneering metallic frameworks. The real revolution occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when metal-free structures capable of withstanding chewing loads without a metallic base appeared.

Types of Dental Ceramics

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

Silicate 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.

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

feldspathic Ceramics

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

• Advantages. Maximum natural aesthetics, used for veneering and veneers.
• Disadvantages. Low strength (100–120 MPa), prone to chipping, requires mandatory support from 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.

• Advantages. Strength of about 600 MPa, good biocompatibility.
• Disadvantages. Less translucent, used for crowns on chewing teeth and small bridges.

Zirconium Dioxide

The king of strength among ceramic materials. This is polycrystalline ceramics without a glass phase.

• Advantages. Extremely high strength (up to 1000+ MPa), suitable for bridges of any length and chewing teeth.
• Disadvantages. Less translucent than silicate ceramics, therefore often used with ceramic veneers for front teeth.

Comparative Table

Key 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 the teeth a bluish hue and create a gray streak near the gums. Metal-free ceramics are completely free of this drawback: light passes through them just as it does through natural enamel, making the restoration indistinguishable from real teeth.

What to Remember

Any ceramic is not an eternal material. It can chip with bruxism (tooth grinding), improper bite, or excessive loads. Moreover, ceramics require minimum tooth preparation (0.3–1.5 mm) to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.

Permanent link to this publication: