Ceramic optimized polymer: the next generation of esthetic restorations--Part 1

An abundance of new materials and techniques that challenge the clinician to recommend and provide the appropriate restoration for each clinical situation have been developed in the last decade. A new generation of materials, described by manufacturers as ceramic optimized polymers, have been recommended for a wide variety of restorations including inlays/onlays, crowns and bridges, and direct restorations. In this article, the appropriate preparation and luting technique for inlays/onlays are delineated. The use of ceromer inlays/onlays for teeth exhibiting symptoms of the partially fractured tooth is demonstrated.