Dental ceramics are known for their excellence in artificially reproduce natural teeth. In the XVIII century they were employed for the first time in Dentistry as artificial tooth for complete dentures. Since the XX century they were used to fabricate metal ceramic restorations and, nowadays, all-ceramic restorations are obtained as a result of ceramic technology improvement. Ceramics present a fast progress in the scientific field in order to improve their physical and mechanical properties to provide for aesthetic needs so required by modern society. In this context, it is important to know each ceramic system currently available on the market, regarding not only its main features but also its limitations, to an accurate indication for each specific clinical situation.
ceramics; metal-ceramic alloys
