RESUMEN
Over the past two decades, dental ceramics have experienced rapid advances in science and technology, becoming the fastest-growing field of dental materials. This review emphasizes the significant impact of translucent zirconia in fixed prosthodontics, merging aesthetics with strength, and highlights its versatility from single crowns to complex bridgework facilitated by digital manufacturing advancements. The unique light-conducting properties of translucent zirconia offer a natural dental appearance, though with considerations regarding strength trade-offs compared to its traditional, opaque counterpart. The analysis extends to the mechanical attributes of the material, noting its commendable fracture resistance and durability, even under simulated physiological conditions. Various zirconia types (3Y-TZP, 4Y-TZP, 5Y-TZP) display a range of strengths influenced by factors like yttria content and manufacturing processes. The study also explores adhesive strategies, underlining the importance of surface treatments and modern adhesives in achieving long-lasting bonds. In the realm of implant-supported restorations, translucent zirconia stands out for its precision, reliability, and aesthetic adaptability, proving suitable for comprehensive dental restorations. Despite its established benefits, the review calls for ongoing research to further refine the material's properties and adhesive protocols and to solidify its applicability through long-term clinical evaluations, ensuring its sustainable future in dental restorative applications.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: For the past two and half years, dentists all across the world, along with their patients, have faced numerous challenges. In this context, the aim of this integrative review was to assess if dentists' and patients' attitudes regarding teledentistry (TD) have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak, and if the use of TD will continue to rise, even in the post-pandemic period; (2) Methods: A literature search was performed between August 2021 and January 2022. The PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were searched for articles published between 2012 and 2022 using a combination of the following Mesh terms: "COVID-19", "pandemic", "oral telemedicine", "teledentistry"; (3) Results: Among the 52 included papers, nine papers were published between 2011 and 2019, and 43 articles were published after 2020 (12 were published in 2020, 29 papers were published in 2021, and two in 2022). Among the articles published before 2020, seven out of nine included papers were reviews, and two were original research. Among the 43 papers published after 2020, 18 were reviews and 25 original research. (4) Conclusions: Based on the results of this integrative review, there is clear evidence that the interest in teledentistry and teleassistance in the dental field has increased rapidly, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, while dental practitioners should be encouraged to keep themselves updated about new technologies, patients should also be constantly informed about their options for receiving special oral health care.