Esthetic Solutions for Anterior Teeth: Resin Composites or Dental Ceramics?

This article reviews and contrasts resin composites and dental ceramics for anterior esthetic restorations, highlighting their fundamental properties, indications, and clinical performance. Resin composites excel in minor or localized cases—such as class III and IV cavities, minor contour modifications, or closure of small diastemas—owing to their straightforward application, color-matching capabilities, and minimal tooth preparation requirements. However, they are vulnerable to issues like discoloration, wear, and marginal staining, and often need periodic repolishing or repair. Dental ceramics demonstrate superior longevity, color stability, and resistance to wear, making them the preferred choice for extensive rehabilitations, larger restorations, and compromised teeth requiring crowns or bridges. While ceramics generally involve more invasive preparations and demand meticulous bonding procedures, their inert nature and high mechanical strength often result in outstanding long-term outcomes when properly executed. Clinical decision-making should account for factors such as tooth structure, occlusion, patient`s age and habits (e.g., parafunctions), staining risk, and esthetic demands. Ultimately, striking the right balanc between biology, function, and esthetics is essential to avoid overtreatment and preserve natural dentition. Through illustrative case studies and a synthesis of relevant literature, this article provides practical guidelines for selecting the most appropriate material for each clinical scenario.