title: Ceramics in dentistry: historical roots and current perspectives.
abstract: This article presents a brief history of dental ceramics and offers perspectives on recent research aimed at the further development of ceramics for clinical use, at their evaluation and selection, and very importantly, their clinical performance. Innovative ceramic materials and ceramics processing strategies that were introduced to restorative dentistry since the early 1980s are discussed. Notable research is highlighted regarding (1) wear of ceramics and opposing enamel, (2) polishability of porcelains, (3) influence of firing history on the thermal expansion of porcelains for metal ceramics, (4) machining and CAD/CAM as fabrication methods for clinical restorations, (5) fit of ceramic restorations, (6) clinical failure mechanisms of all-ceramic prostheses, (7) chemical and thermal strengthening of dental ceramics, (8) intraoral porcelain repair, and (9) criteria for selection of the various ceramics available. It is found that strong scientific and collaborative foundations exist for the continued understanding and improvement of dental ceramic systems.
authors.affiliation: Dental and Medical Materials Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003735:Dental Casting Technique; D003743:Dental Enamel; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history; D003775:Dental Polishing; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D017269:Dental Prosthesis Repair; D018865:Dental Research; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain