Retrospective assessment of 546 all-ceramic anterior and posterior crowns in a general practice.
BACKGROUND
There is need to determine whether following a consistent procedural protocol in a private dental practice will result in high success rates for all-ceramic anterior and posterior crowns fabricated from aluminous porcelain veneered to high-alumina content-supporting cores. Aluminous porcelain is known to have poor tensile strength and fracture resistance when subjected to shear forces.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined the long-term survivability of alumina core, all-ceramic crowns in both anterior and posterior locations.


METHODS
Following a consistent protocol over 6 years, 546 all-ceramic, In-Ceram crowns (32.4% anterior [n = 177] and 67.6% posterior [n = 369]) were consecutively luted with glass ionomer resin hybrid cement and periodically observed by the same dentist who prepared and cemented them.


RESULTS
The overall success rate was 99.1% (n = 541) with a 0.9% (n = 5) failure rate. The success-to-failure ratio for anterior all-ceramic crowns was 98.9% to 1.1% (n = 175:2); the posterior crown ratio was 99.2% to 0.8% (n = 366:3).


CONCLUSIONS
Following a consistent protocol of careful tooth preparation and crown cementation resulted in high success rates for anterior and posterior all-ceramic crowns. Glass ionomer resin hybrid cement appeared to be a reliable luting agent. All-ceramic alumina core crowns are durable and provide optimum esthetic choices for anterior and posterior locations.
Segal
B S
BS
The Pankey Institute, Key Biscayne, Fla, USA. barse1@aol.com
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002484:Cementation; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003442:Crowns; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003801:Dental Veneers; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011176:Post and Core Technique; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013718:Tensile Strength; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C105314:AllCeram; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D019279:Resin Cements; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C070870:In-Ceram; D000537:Aluminum Oxide