Abstract
Prosthetic dental restorations began to be used more frequently in 1907 when casting was introduced as a method to make fixed prostheses. Since then, cast crown and bridge restorations have been improved significantly and continue to contribute in a major way to dental restorative treatment. To provide tooth colored restorations with the cast metal, porcelain fused to cast metal was invented and opened the way to the present esthetic dentistry transformation. During the 20th century, metal and porcelain were the main materials for fixed prosthetic restorations. The cast metal and porcelain, being hard and strong materials, were considered to be excellent for fixed restorative treatment. Recently, there have been concerns that these materials, which are harder than living tissue and are very strong, may have a detrimental influence on the abutment and antagonistic teeth. Therefore, materials that wear closer to that of tooth structure, actually the same as tooth structure, are more desirable, and would be ideal. We believe ESTENIA can measure up to this rigorous 21st century request for a better, kinder material.
