The metal-free restorations are sought out due to aesthetic needs. The success of restorative treatment depends on the peculiarities of each ceramic system and on a proper strategy for cementing. This article presents the surface treatment of the interfaces involved during the cementing, the dental structure and restoration, and elucidates the cementing agent. It emphasizes the different types of surface treatment for acid-sensitive and acid-resistant ceramics, and hybrid ceramics. The literature review was based on scientific articles published in different database (PubMed, Medline, Scielo, Bireme and Google Scholar) using the keywords: prosthodontics, ceramics, surface treatment and cementation. Relevant articles were selected between 2002 and 2015 regarding the issue under review. The knowledge of dentists about the cementation strategies, depending on the type of ceramic used, is necessary for decision making during the cementing and promote the clinical success of treatment with metal-free restorations.