title: Five-year clinical evaluation of zirconia-based bridges in patients in UK general dental practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reported the results at 5 years of fixed-fixed all-ceramic bridges, constructed in a yttria oxide stabilized tetragonal zirconium oxide polycrystal (Y-TZP) substructure, placed in adult patients in UK general dental practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four UK general dental practitioners recruited patients who required fixed bridgework and, after obtaining informed written consent, appropriate clinical and radiographic assessments were completed. The teeth were prepared and bridges constructed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Each bridge was reviewed annually within 3 months of the anniversary of its placement by a calibrated examiner, together with the clinician who had placed the restoration, using modified USPHS criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 41 bridges originally placed, 33 bridges were examined at 5 years. All Y-TZP frameworks were intact and no bridge retainers had debonded. Eight chipping fractures in the veneering ceramic were noted over the 5-year period. In five cases the patients were unaware of these and these cases were polished. Of the remaining three cases, in one a repair was attempted but was unsuccessful, but the bridge remained in satisfactory service. However, in the case involving a chipping fracture of the mesial-incisal angle of a central incisor, it was considered that replacement of the bridge was necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  97% (n=32) of the 33 Lava Y-TZP fixed-fixed bridges, evaluated in patients attending UK general dental practices, were found to be performing satisfactorily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of Y-TZP frameworks holds promise.
authors: Primary Dental Care Research Unit, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, School of Medical and Dental Sciences, St. Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK. Electronic address: f.j.t.burke@bham.ac.uk.
authors: F J T
authors: FJ
authors: Burke
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Crisp
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Cowan
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lamb
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Thompson
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Tulloch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D000044:Dental Abutments; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003801:Dental Veneers; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000145:classification; D003779:Denture Design; D003780:Denture Repair; D003781:Denture Retention; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D013499:Surface Properties; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015019:Yttrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; C499362:yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia; D015019:Yttrium; D015040:Zirconium
keywords: Bridges; Clinical evaluation; Practice-based; Zirconia