Retrospective Clinical Study of Single-Retainer Cantilever Anterior and Posterior Glass-Ceramic Resin-Bonded Fixed Dental Prostheses at a Mean Follow-up of 6 Years

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the 6-year survival rates and technical/ biologic complication rates of single-retainer glass-ceramic resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs). Materials and Methods: Forty patients with 49 anterior/posterior glass-ceramic RBFDPs were included. The RBFDPs replaced 11 maxillary/mandibular central incisors, 18 lateral incisors, 18 premolars, and 2 molars. Patients willing to participate were clinically and radiologically examined. The technical outcome was assessed with modified United States Public Health Service criteria. Fracture and/or chipping of the restoration, occlusal wear, marginal adaptation, marginal discoloration, shape, surface texture, and esthetic integration were recorded. Tooth vitality and postoperative sensitivity were tested. The following biologic parameters were assessed at test and control teeth: probing pocket depth, gingival recession, attachment loss, bleeding on probing, furcation involvement, and periodontal mobility. Statistical analysis was performed with exact 95% confidence intervals to relative frequencies and the paired t test. Results: Twenty-eight patients with 35 RBFDPs participated. The mean follow-up of the RBFDPs was 6 years. Twelve patients with 14 RBFDPs were not willing to participate or not available. No catastrophic failures occurred. The 6-year survival rate of the examined RBFDPs was 100%. No debonding was recorded. Chipping of the ceramic was found in 5.7% of the RBFDPs. Biologic outcomes were similar at test and control teeth. Conclusion: Glass-ceramic RBFDPs exhibited promising clinical outcomes in both anterior and posterior regions.