The metal-free approach to restorative treatment planning.

Considerable developments in the area of metal-free restorations--in response to increasing esthetic demands from patients--are offering the clinician and dental technician new therapeutic paths to follow when performing restorative treatments. Effective and reliable high-strength ceramic systems, suitable for anterior and posterior sites, may allow the achievement of predictable esthetics and function. Along with the evident indications for the treatment of anterior compromised elements, these types of restorations may be used in a wider variety of clinical cases, including complex prosthetic rehabilitations. Appropriate usage of different materials according to the specific clinical situation is mandatory for long-lasting, functional, and esthetic results. Therefore, a thorough application of metal-free restorations may be considered a "metal-free approach", which includes a specific formulation of treatment planning. In this article, the different materials, selection criteria, clinical indications, and benefits are evaluated, with a particular regard for treatment planning.