Ceramic optimized polymer: the next generation of esthetic restorations--Part 1.

An abundance of new materials and techniques that challenge the clinician to recommend and provide the appropriate restoration for each clinical situation have been developed in the last decade. A new generation of materials, described by manufacturers as ceramic optimized polymers, have been recommended for a wide variety of restorations including inlays/onlays, crowns and bridges, and direct restorations. In this article, the appropriate preparation and luting technique for inlays/onlays are delineated. The use of ceromer inlays/onlays for teeth exhibiting symptoms of the partially fractured tooth is demonstrated.