Zirconia and its novel compositions: What do clinicians need to know?

For several years, there has been a clear trend in the dental market towards monolithic tooth-colored restorations. In this context, further developments, particularly in the field of zirconia ceramics, have led to considerable improvement in the materials' optical properties. Modern zirconia materials can be divided into several cohorts, differing from each other with respect to their optical and mechanical properties. The knowledge about indications and limitations of each zirconia cohort is essential for a correct clinical application. Clinical long-term experience for the zirconia of the newest generations is still scarce and only in-vitro data are available. Despite all advancements, clinical long-term success remains closely linked to the specific indications, preparation, material selection, knowledge, and experience of the dental practitioner and dental technician, as well as an adequate luting mode and occlusal concept. Due to the high innovation rate within materials and CAD/CAM technology in general, clinicians and dental technicians need to be well informed in order to be able to work successfully with the various options. Keywords: all-ceramics, flexural strength, generations, monolithic restorations, translucency, zirconia