Zirconia Ceramic in Dental CAD/CAM HowCAD/CAM Technology Enables Zirconia To Replace Metal In Restorative Dentistry Author : Jef M. van der Zel, PhD, MSc

after a long period of unfulfilled hope for a wider application of full-ceramic restorations,
zirconia ceramic might be able to replace metal in veneered restorations for a much wider
field of application than was previously predicted by developments in the area of material
technology and the application of dental CAD/CAM. The fast succession of new materials for
full-ceramic restorations in the marketplace since the porcelain jacket crown was introduced
in 1980 has created certain scepticism among general practitioners with respect to ceramic,
because of the occurrence of brittle fractures. The rationale for a reliable use of ceramic materials
can be obtained by extensive in-vitro and clinical research at different work groups in different
centers, but also by support of fundamentals based on reproducible and standardized material
test methods and work instructions. Only then we can talk about evidence-based use in dental
health care and can we prevent a going with the hype of the day