Contemporary all-ceramic fixed partial dentures: a review

High-strength all-ceramic systems for fixed partial dentures (FPDs)have become available for replacing missing teeth. New core materials have been developed and have evolved in the last decade,with yttrium tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP)-based materials being the most contemporary. With the emphasis on the use of computer-assisted design/computer assisted-manufacturing technology, various production techniques have been developed for enhancing the fabrication of consistent and predictable restorations in terms of strength, marginal fit, and esthetics. Although initial results are limited, results reported in scientific abstracts of ongoing clinical studies assessing the long-term success of three unit all-ceramic FPDs and anecdotal evidence published in peer reviewed articles on the use of Y-TZP-based restorative systems are encouraging. This article reviews the evolution and development of materials and technologies for all-ceramic FPDs.