For decades, metal was the default in restorative dentistry. Amalgam fillings, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, and metal-based alloys were the materials patients accepted because there were no stronger alternatives. Today, that has changed. All-ceramic and glass-ceramic materials have not only matched the durability of traditional metal-based restorations in most clinical scenarios but have surpassed them in biocompatibility, esthetic performance, and long-term patient satisfaction.