Choice of ceramic for use in treatments with porcelain laminate veneers

Porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs) have been used for over two decades to treat esthetic and/or functional problems, particularly in the anterior sector. A range of dental ceramic materials are presently available on the market for these treatments, though with very different characteristics in terms of the composition, optic properties and manufacturing processes involved. As a result, selection of the material best suited for the management of each individual patient may prove complicated. The present study proposes a simple system for selecting the most appropriate ceramic material, based on the two variables that most influence the esthetic outcome: the intrinsic characteristics of the substrate tooth, and the characteristics of the ceramic material in terms of resistance and optic properties.