Five-year clinical evaluation of Procera AllCeram crowns.
BACKGROUND
Esthetic demands of patients and practitioners for an all-ceramic crown in both anterior and posterior regions of the dental arches has prompted the development of the Procera AllCeram crown. Long-term clinical trials that evaluate the strength and naturalness of the Procera AllCeram crown are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was initiated to evaluate the clinical performance of 100 Procera AllCeram crowns after 5 years in service.


METHODS
One hundred Procera AllCeram crowns were fabricated for 58 patients (20 men and 38 women). Patients were treated by 4 general dental practitioners. Crown placement involved both the anterior and posterior regions of the dental arches. Crowns were examined at baseline and once a year during the 5 years that followed and evaluated at each appointment with the California Dental Association's quality assessment system.


RESULTS
Of the 97 crowns remaining in the study after 5 years, only 3 crowns had experienced a fracture through the veneering porcelain and the aluminum oxide coping material. Two additional crowns were replaced as a result of fractures of only the veneering porcelain. One crown was replaced as a result of recurrent caries. All remaining crowns were ranked as either excellent or acceptable for surface/color, anatomic form, and marginal integrity.


CONCLUSIONS
The 5-year clinical observations and ranking with the California Dental Association's quality assessment criteria supported the conclusion that Procera AllCeram crowns may be used in all areas of the mouth.
Odén
A
A
Department of Dental Biomaterials Science, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
Andersson
M
M
Krystek-Ondracek
I
I
Magnusson
D
D
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002484:Cementation; D003116:Color; D003442:Crowns; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003801:Dental Veneers; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement / Q000737:chemistry
C105314:AllCeram; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D019279:Resin Cements; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement; D000537:Aluminum Oxide