Recent advances in ceramic materials and systems for dental restorations.

The unsurpassed aesthetic and biocompatible qualities of ceramic materials still provide the stimulus to seek to overcome their limitations. Much of the materials research since the mid 1960s has been directed towards producing stronger, reinforced restorations with improved marginal accuracy and, although a new wave of ceramic products appeared in the 1980s, most of the materials currently available are developments derived from ideas established more than 20 years ago. This paper outlines some interesting aspects of recent developments and considers the present state of the art with respect to both materials and techniques.