Letter to the Editor

Dear Sir While enjoying your December 2004 issue immensely, I feel that I should point out a number of omissions in the article by Dr Yanikoglu on methods of repair of fractured metal-ceramic restorations, as the author has made several important omissions. First, it may be relevant to state that there may be a difference in aetiology between early and late failure of metal-ceramic restorations. I feel that early failures, without any history of trauma, may be regarded as deficiencies relating to the laboratory, such as inadequate metal thickness/stiffness which may allow flexure of the restoration and resultant loss of overlying ceramic. Such failures will be impossible to repair in the long term because the primary deficiency cannot be rectified. Other laboratory problems can also be contributory. Late failures, in my experience, are generally a result of external trauma or occlusal trauma. These, I feel, have a good chance of repair.