All-ceramic restorations: teaching in UK and Irish dental schools

The teaching of all-ceramic restorations has been surveyed in the UK and Irish dental schools. Based on a 93% response, the findings indicate that the majority of undergraduate (pre-doctoral) students in UK and Irish dental schools gain clinical experience of all-ceramic restorations as part of their core teaching. While the 14 responding schools provide clinical instruction in all-ceramic crowns and veneers, only 12 schools were found to include instruction in all-ceramic inlays and onlays. A wide range of ceramic systems are taught and there is general conformity in respect of the associated teaching in relation to liners and bases, the selection of impression materials and the use of luting systems, except in conjunction with all-ceramic crowns. The principal contraindications to all-ceramic restorations in undergraduate teaching were found to be poor oral hygiene and parafunctional activity (bruxing/clenching).