title: Fiber-reinforced composite fixed dental prostheses in the anterior area: a 4.5-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, fiber-reinforced fixed dental prostheses (FRC FDPs) are a reliable treatment option for the restoration of single missing teeth in the anterior area.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival of direct and semidirect fabricated FRC FDPs in the anterior area and to rate the quality of the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four participants (12 men, 12 women) were included in the investigation. The prostheses were made of preimpregnated, unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) (everStick, GC) by using a direct (n=18) or semidirect (n=6) technique. Eleven FRC FDPs had been placed in the maxilla and 13 had been placed in the mandible. Follow-up intervals were recorded, and the prostheses were classified as success (successful), survival (unfavorable event but still in vivo), or failure (lost). Quality was rated according to the modified United States Public Health Services (USPHS) or Ryge criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FRC FDPs evaluated in this study showed an overall survival rate (success) of 72.6% and a functional survival rate (success + survival) of 85.6% (median follow-up 54 months). According to the USPHS/Ryge criteria, most of the restorations displayed excellent or good quality. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FRC FDPs evaluated in this study showed promising survival rates and good quality after a median follow-up period of 4.5 years (quartile range 3.5 to 6.3 years), thus indicating that FRC FDPs are reliable treatment options for the restoration of single missing teeth in the anterior area. The use of preimpregnated FRC materials with higher fiber content might improve the clinical fabrication of FRC FDPs but does not influence their long-term clinical survival.
authors: Senior Dentist, Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: cornelia.frese@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Frese
authors: Statistician, Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Schiller
authors: Department Head, Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Hans Joerg
authors: HJ
authors: Staehle
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Wolff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003481:Cuspid; D000044:Dental Abutments; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019554:Dental Restoration Wear; D003779:Denture Design; D016379:Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded / Q000592:standards; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C496140:everStick; C009753:fiberglass