Clinical Performance of Anterior Full Veneer Restorations Made of Lithium Disilicate with a Mean Observation Time of 8 Years

Purpose: To evaluate the survival and complication rates of full veneer restorations after up to 11 years of clinical service. Materials and Methods: Six patients (four men, two women, median age 42.3 ± 4.7 years) were restored with a total of 40 adhesively luted anterior full veneers (maxilla: 36; mandible: 6; mostly canine to canine) made of lithium disilicate ceramic. Patients were treated between July 2007 and January 2014. All restorations were examined during annual recall visits using the modified United States Public Health Service criteria for color match, marginal discoloration, secondary caries, marginal integrity, surface texture, and restoration fracture, rated as Alpha, Bravo, or Charlie. Data were statistically analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation with log-rank test. Results: Time of clinical service was 68 to 139 months (median: 8.1 ± 2.0 years) without any dropouts. Full veneer restorations in the anterior dentition presented a survival rate of 100% and a complication rate of 12.5% due to reparable minor chippings (technical complication/restoration fracture rated Bravo) of four restorations (one after 11 months, one after 20 months, and two after 66 months) and a crack in one restoration (after 38 months) due to trauma. No further technical (debonding or discoloration) or biologic (secondary caries) complications occurred. Conclusion: Based on the present results, minimally invasive anterior full veneer restorations might be considered as a reliable treatment option, but further clinical data are essential.