title: Longitudinal study of pressed glass-ceramic inlays for four and a half years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some restorative materials used in the posterior region of the mouth present conventional problems, such as microleakage, recurrent caries, wear, and poor color stability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the reliability of the IPS Empress ceramic material for fabricating inlays and onlays in the posterior region of the mouth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 125 IPS Empress pressed glass ceramic inlays were placed for 29 patients in a private practice. The restorations were observed for a period of 7 to 56 months, with a mean of 40.3 months. All inlays were constructed in the same dental laboratory and the restorative materials used according to the manufacturers' instructions. The restorations were evaluated clinically according to modified U.S. Public Health Service criteria at the time of insertion and at periodic recall appointments. Kaplan-Meier statistics were used to calculate survival rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical evaluation revealed that pressed glass ceramic inlays, with the exception of four fractured restorations, were rated from Alpha to Bravo for each criteria. Marginal discoloration recorded the lowest percentage of alpha ratings (65.3%). The estimated survival rate after approximately a 4.5-year follow-up period was 95.63% (95% confidence interval; 90.77% to 99.95%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fradeani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aquilano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bassein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D001641:Bicuspid; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D003116:Color; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000209:etiology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007284:Inlays; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003764:Dental Materials; C075815:IPS-Empress ceramic; D003776:Dental Porcelain