Clinical success of zirconia in dental applications.

The application of ceramic materials for the fabrication of dental restorations is a focus of interest in esthetic dentistry. The ceramic materials of choice are glass ceramics, spinel, alumina, and zirconia. Zirconia was introduced into dentistry in the 1990s because of its good mechanical and chemical properties and is currently being used as a material for frameworks, dowels, implants, abutments, and orthodontic brackets. Many in vitro studies about zirconia use have been published, but clinical long-term studies are very important. This article presents data regarding the incidence of clinical success and complications of zirconia in these dental applications. Clinical studies published to date seem to indicate that zirconia is well tolerated and sufficiently resistant.