Indirect Restoration
A dental prosthetic component fabricated outside the oral cavity — typically in a dental laboratory — and subsequently cemented or bonded into place.
Full Definition
An indirect restoration is any fixed prosthetic unit, including crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, and bridges, that is manufactured extraorally from an impression or digital scan of the prepared tooth and then permanently placed in a separate clinical appointment. The distinction from direct restorations is clinically and editorially significant because material properties, cementation protocols, and quality standards differ substantially between the two categories. Editors should verify that authors do not classify chairside CAD/CAM restorations as 'direct' simply because they are delivered in one visit; the fabrication still occurs outside the mouth.
Usage
Usage note: Clarify whether a chairside CAD/CAM restoration is classified as direct or indirect in the specific journal's taxonomy, as conventions vary.
In Context
- "The study grouped both ceramic veneers and full-coverage crowns under 'indirect restorations,' which is editorially accurate as both are fabricated extraorally." — Systematic review methods section
- "Authors must not conflate 'indirect restoration' with 'fixed prosthesis,' as the latter carries a broader clinical meaning." — Editorial style guide for dental journals