Two-year clinical evaluation of Cerec 3D ceramic inlays inserted by undergraduate dental students.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical results of final-year dental students' clinical performance after a practical computer-based course and training in the new Cerec 3 method.


METHODS
Cerec 3D restorations (Sirona) were made and inserted in patients by 50 dental students. The students were in their final semester in the Department of Operative Dentistry. Before treatment of the patients began, the students had undergone computer-based Cerec 3D training. The training included lessons comprising the whole Cerec procedure from planning to insertion of the restoration. Vital permanent premolars or molars requiring a 2- or 3-surface restoration were selected for the study. The evaluation started 1 week after luting. The inlays were examined in accordance with the US Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 months.


RESULTS
The 2-year survival rate of the restorations was estimated to be 93.3% according to Kaplan-Meier. No statistically significant changes were observed in color match, surface texture, and anatomic form. The decrease of pulpal hypersensitivity during the observation period was statistically significant (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Dental students are capable of delivering demanding clinical tasks after appropriate training. The introduction of CAD/CAM restorations to the dental curriculum resulted in high short-term success rates. Further investigations are required to evaluate the long-term success of those restorations. To achieve a clinically adequate performance, it is necessary to consider the basic rules and technology associated with ceramic restorations.
Wrbas
Karl-Thomas
KT
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University School and Dental Hospital, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. thomas.wrbas@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Hein
Nicole
N
Schirrmeister
Jörg Fabian
JF
Altenburger
Markus Jörg
MJ
Hellwig
Elmar
E
D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid; D002484:Cementation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007284:Inlays; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D013335:Students, Dental
D003776:Dental Porcelain