Pages 493-496, Language: EnglishBohlsen, Frank / Kern, MatthiasObjective: Glass-fiber-reinforced resin composites for the fabrication of esthetic single crowns and fixed partial dentures have been developed recently. However, little data on the clinical outcome of such restorations have been published. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of crowns and fixed partial dentures made from the glass-fiber-reinforced resin composite material Targis/Vectris. Method and materials: Between 1995 and 1997, 39 patients were treated with 67 single crowns and 83 fixed partial dentures. Twenty-five crowns and 28 fixed partial dentures were cemented with temporary cement, while 42 crowns and 55 fixed partial dentures were cemented with either zinc-phosphate cement or glass-ionomer cement. Results: In September 2001, 57 restorations in 17 patients were still in function. The three-year survival rate calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method was 58.8% for all restorations. However, after this time, it was 37.5% for crowns and 59.9% for fixed partial dentures cemented with temporary cement, and 55.1% for crowns and 67.9% for fixed partial dentures cemented with zinc phosphate or glass ionomer. The differences between the restoration groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Glass-fiber-reinforced crowns and fixed partial dentures made with the glass-fiber-reinforced resin composite material Targis/Vectris showed a lower survival rate than that published for metal-ceramic crowns and fixed partial dentures. Therefore, the use of this material for the fabrication of single crowns or fixed partial dentures as permanent restorations cannot be recommended.
