title: Survival rates of a lithium disilicate-based core ceramic for three-unit esthetic fixed partial dentures: a 10-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and long-term survival rate of three-unit fixed partial dentures (FPDs) made from lithium disilicate-based core ceramic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one three-unit FPDs were placed in 19 patients to replace single lost teeth in the esthetic area, following a study protocol that took clinical, esthetic, and radiologic aspects into consideration. Each case was reviewed at 1 week following placement, at 6 months, and then annually for 10 years. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 19 patients, 14.3% presented reversible postoperative sensitivity. Recession was observed in 24% of dental posts, and 7.1% presented marginal discoloration. Treatment did not increase either Bleeding or Plaque Index scores at prepared teeth; secondary caries did not appear either. The restorations' survival rate at the 10-year follow-up was 71.4%; six FPDs had fractured and one debonded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fracture failure rate was 28.6% after 10 years; a high percentage corresponded to connector fractures and occurred during the first 5 years. Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic FPDs present a higher risk of fracture than standard therapies (metal-ceramic) or other more recently developed ceramic materials. The prognosis for survival improves for Class I occlusion and nonparafunctional patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Buccofacial Prosthetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain. m.fernanda.sola@uv.es
authors.forename: M Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Solá-Ruiz
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagos-Flores
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Román-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Jaime Del Rio
authors.initials: Jdel R
authors.lastname: Highsmith
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fons-Font
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granell-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003116:Color; D000044:Dental Abutments; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D003779:Denture Design; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013499:Surface Properties; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C118557:Empress 2; D018020:Lithium Compounds; C493120:lithia disilicate; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C023506:Glass ceramics