Fiber-reinforced composite fixed dental prostheses: a retrospective clinical examination.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain survival data on 32 fiber-reinforced fixed dental prostheses which were inserted in our department and to rate the quality of these restorations on the basis of esthetic, biological, and functional parameters.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with fiber-reinforced fixed dental prostheses were included in the study. The fiber frameworks were made of a polymer-monomer-preimpregnated continuous unidirectional glass fiber material. The survival times, failure events, and clinical parameters were recorded. Restorations in function without previous failure were classified as "Overall Survival". The classification "Functional Survival" was assigned in the event of minor failure and subsequent repair. Loss of the restoration was regarded as "Failure". The quality rating was performed using modified USHPS/Ryge criteria.


RESULTS
The follow-up interval ranged from 2 to 64 months with a median follow-up time of 18.2 months. Twenty-four restorations were classified as "Overall Survival", seven were classified as "Functional Survival", and one was classified as "Failure". The overall survival at the median follow-up time was 74.4%. For the majority, the quality rating (USHPS/Ryge criteria) yielded clinically excellent results in all categories. No restoration was rated as insufficient or poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Fiber-reinforced composite fixed dental prostheses provide sufficient stability and very good esthetic, biological, and functional performance in the case of specific clinical indications.
Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Diana.Wolff@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Diana
D
Wolff
Cornelia
C
Schach
Theresa
T
Kraus
Paul
P
Ding
Maria
M
Pritsch
Johannes
J
Mente
Daniela
D
Joerss
Hans Jörg
HJ
Staehle
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003188:Composite Resins; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003188:Composite Resins; C009753:fiberglass