With the increase in the use of direct and indirect ceramic bonded restorations, clarification of restoration definitions is required.
Some new terminology is given to clarify the size of ceramic restorations.
A review of the present restoration definitions is required. This will serve as a guideline in discussions with fellow practitioners as well as insurance companies and regulatory bodies. The material chosen for restoration of the tooth always determines preparation design. In the past the terms inlay, onlay and crown were related to gold. Now with the more tooth conservative preparations allowed by bonding technology we no longer can rely on these definitions to accurately describe ceramic restorations.