Aesthetic functional area protection concept for prevention of ceramic chipping with zirconia frameworks.

Chipping of the ceramic veneer is reported as a frequent occurrence when using zirconia-based fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). One possible cause of this complication is the inadequate support of the veneering ceramic by the zirconia substructure. In this article, early clinical observations from patients treated with 96 zirconia-based ceramic single- and multiple-unit FDPs on natural teeth and implants are presented. The FDPs were fabricated according to the aesthetic functional area protection concept of framework design for the prevention of ceramic chipping.