Ten-Year Clinical Survival of Anterior Cantilever Resin-Bonded Fixed Dental Prostheses: A Retrospective Study

Purpose: To assess the 10-year clinical retention and survival rates of metal-ceramic (MC) and all-ceramic (AC) cantilever resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (CRBFDPs). Materials and Methods: Forty CRBFDPs constructed from either cobalt-chromium ceramic (MC group; n = 20) or glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic (AC group; n = 20) were placed in 40 patients between August 2007 and December 2009. After baseline recordings, the patients were followed up using modified United States Public Health Services (USPHS) criteria after 6 months and thereafter annually for 10 years. Data were statistically analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation with log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. Results: The 10-year clinical retention rate was 95.0% in the MC group and 70% in the AC group. The difference was statistically significant (P = .02, log-rank test). Three all-ceramic CRBFDPs fractured at 6, 12, and 84 months after insertion. No statistically significant difference in survival rate was observed between the MC and AC groups over the 10 years of clinical observation (MC: 100%; AC: 85%; P = .075) (Kaplan-Meier method, confidence interval = 92.5% to 97.5%). Conclusion: Although glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic anterior CRBFDPs exhibited a lower clinical retention rate compared to metal-ceramic CRBFDPs, the debonded prostheses were recemented and continued in function over the observation period. Additionally, an acceptable 10-year clinical longevity was recorded.