Inlay-retained zirconia fixed dental prostheses: modified designs for a completely adhesive approach

For single tooth replacement many techniques are currently available, such as implant dentistry and metal–ceramic or all-ceramic fixed partial dentures (FPDs). However, when implant placement is not possible or not indicated, an inlay-retained FPD (IFPD) can be chosen, especially when adjacent teeth have preexisting restorations. In these cases, both metal–ceramic and fiber-reinforced composite IFPDs have some disadvantages, including loss of retention. This paper discusses all-ceramic IFPDs with zirconia frameworks, veneered with a press-on technique. The marginal area of the restorations’ retainers are always made of pressed ceramic to allow for an adhesive luting procedure; when the cavities’ depths increase, a full contour ceramic press-on is allowed all around the retainers, increasing the surface available for the adhesive approach.