A new metal-free alternative for single- and multiunit restorations

More than 40 years after their development, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restorations remain the clinical standard against which other esthetic dental materials are measured. One of the challenges of PFM restorations, as with many indirect restorations, is the task of making them appear lifelike when viewed adjacent to natural teeth. All-ceramic restorations have become a welcome addition to the restorative armamentarium because their lack of a metal substructure allows them to blend well with surrounding natural dentition. While all-ceramic materials were initially used to veneer teeth and improve esthetics, they began to be used for full-coverage crowns and, more recently, to replace missing teeth as well.