Clinical behavior of zirconia-based fixed partial dentures made of DC-Zirkon: 3-year results.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical performance of anterior and posterior fixed partial dentures (FPDs) with frameworks made using DC-Zirkon after a mean observation time of 3 years.


METHODS
Forty-six patients with 1 to 3 missing anterior or posterior teeth were included in this study. All abutment teeth were prepared for full crowns with a chamfer preparation of 0.6 to 0.8 mm. The zirconia frameworks were produced with the Precident DCS system and veneered with veneering porcelain (Vita D). A self-curing resin cement was used for the anterior FPDs and a conventional zinc oxide phosphate cement was used for the posterior FPDs.


RESULTS
Fifteen anterior FPDs and 50 posterior FPDs were recalled at least once a year after cementation. The mean observation period was 38 (+/- 18.0) months for the anterior FPDs and 37 (+/- 15.5) months for the posterior FPDs. Within the observation time, no remakes were necessary, but in 4 cases a small chipping of the veneering material occurred in the posterior region. Two FPDs were recemented after decementation, and 3 teeth needed endodontic treatment. No negative influences at the gingival margin were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the mean observation time of 3 years, zirconia-based FPDs demonstrated a sufficient success rate under clinical conditions. However, special attention should be paid to designing the zirconia framework to ensure a sufficient veneering layer thickness with a range between 1 to 2 mm.
Tinschert
Joachim
J
aAssoDepartment of Prosthodontics, Aachen University, Germany. jtinschert@online.de
Schulze
Karen A
KA
Natt
Gerd
G
Latzke
Peter
P
Heussen
Nicole
N
Spiekermann
Hubertus
H
D000328:Adult; D002484:Cementation; D003442:Crowns; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003801:Dental Veneers; D003779:Denture Design; D003780:Denture Repair; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
D003764:Dental Materials; D019279:Resin Cements; C502262:vita veneering ceramic D; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide