Long-term clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures with retentive preparation geometry in anterior and posterior areas.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective clinical evaluation was to show the long-term clinical behavior of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPD) with a retentive, minimally invasive preparation design.


METHODS
Since 1985, 232 RBFPDs with a retentive preparation design were placed under controlled clinical conditions. In 2005 and 2006, 84 fixed partial dentures could be re-evaluated. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the survival rate was determined. The probability of survival was calculated with several risk factors: location (anterior/posterior, maxilla/mandible), metal alloy of the framework (titanium/CoCr), number of pontics, and number of supporting teeth.


RESULTS
A total of 12 failures was observed and resulted in a survival rate of 77% after 10 years. However, only 4 catastrophic failures occurred. In such cases, the restoration was lost, or could not be re-bonded or repaired (survival rate 88% after 10 years). RBFPDs made of a titanium alloy exhibited a statistically significantly higher survival rate than RBFPDs made of a nonprecious CoCr alloy in terms of all failures. Only slight but not statistically significant differences between the covariates maxilla, mandible, anterior/posterior region, number of pontics, and number of abutment teeth were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this study, RBFPDs seem to be a reliable restorative alternative to conventional short-span fixed dental prostheses.
Aggstaller
Hans
H
Department of Prosthodontics, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. hans.aggstaller@gmx.de
Beuer
Florian
F
Edelhoff
Daniel
D
Rammelsberg
Peter
P
Gernet
Wolfgang
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D000044:Dental Abutments; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D016379:Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014025:Titanium; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic / Q000379:methods*; D014093:Tooth, Artificial; D055815:Young Adult
D002858:Chromium Alloys; D014025:Titanium