Ceramic materials have helped dentists meet patients' desires for natural and beautiful restorations. Ceramics include earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Porcelain is made from white china clay and china stone, and is stronger than the other ceramics. The first porcelain dentures were created in 1774 by Alexis Duchateau in France, though they did not fit well due to firing shrinkage. He later collaborated with Nicholas de Chement to improve the fabrication process, and the first single porcelain teeth were later introduced.

1. DENTAL CERAMICS:
Introduction.
Esthetics in contemporary dentistry is partly defined by patient’s desire for naturality and
beauty. The development of ceramic materials has helped the clinician to translate the
patients wishes to reality by providing the near ideal restoration.
The word ceramic is derived from the greek word’keramos’ which means pottery or burnt
stuff.
Historically three types of ceramic materials have been described:
a) Earthenware- relatively porous an dfired at low temperatures.
b) Stoneware- stronger than earthenware , fired at higher temperature and is
impervious to water.
c) Porcelain- is obtained by fluxing white china clay with chine stone. Is stronger
than earthenware and stone ware.
All porcelains are ceramics but all ceramics are not porcelains.
History:
The originator of the first porcelain oaste in the fabrication of dentures was a French
pharmacist by name ALEXIS DUCHATEAU in 1774. The original dentures were
extremely ill-fitting due to the uncontrolled firing shrinkage.
He later collaborated with NICHOLAS DE CHEMENT who improved upon the
method of fabrication.
The first single porcelain teeth were introduced