The dentine-bonded ceramic crown: an ideal restoration?

The principles used in the bonding of porcelain veneers may also be applied to full-coverage restorations, with such crowns luted using resin-based materials. For these full coverage restorations, dentine bonding agents, preferably of low film thickness, may be used to treat areas of exposed dentine prior to placement. These 'dentine-bonded' all-ceramic crowns may exhibit many favourable characteristics, including those of good aesthetics and peripheral blend with gingival tissues and the potential for placement on conservative preparations which may minimise the risk of pulpal damage. Indications include cases in which conventional crowns require replacement, those in which minimal preparation techniques are appropriate, and those in which there has been tooth surface loss. Contraindications include subgingival margins, extreme occlusal interferences and insufficient tooth substance for bonding. However, the longevity of these restorations is, as yet, unknown, in the absence of long-term clinical data.