title: Longevity and quality of FPDs: a retrospective study of restorations 30, 20, and 10 years after insertion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the longevity and clinical performance of fixed partial dentures (FPD) 30, 20, and 10 years after insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 289 FPDs were inserted in 1966/67, 1976/77, and 1986/87. For patients with FPDs presumably still in function, an evaluation according to the CDA criteria was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 64 of the FPDs (22%), no information was available. Seventy-nine patients with 94 FPDs (33%) were clinically examined, and 44 of the FPDs (15%) were reported to be still in function by the patients' current clinicians. The remaining 87 FPDs (30%) were considered lost to follow-up. These FPDs had either been removed for various reasons--in most cases dental caries, lost retention, or fractured abutment teeth--or the patient could not be contacted. Eighty-four percent of the FPDs inserted in 1966/67 were still in function after 20 years, compared to 64% of those inserted in 1976/77. Apart from an increase in wear and discoloration, the oldest FPDs had excellent marginal fit and anatomic shape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival rate of 30-year-old FPDs was high; 53% remained in function after 30 years. Based on the CDA criteria, 78% of the restorations were rated satisfactory in all subgroups. The FPDs placed in 1966/67 obtained the highest ratings in color, anatomy, and margin integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Umeå University, Sweden. charlotta.holm@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tidehag
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tillberg
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D019230:Dental Audit; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012953:Societies, Dental; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors