title: A retrospective evaluation of zirconia-fixed partial dentures in general practices: an up to 13-year study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate zirconia-based fixed partial dentures (FPDs) after more than 8 years in clinical service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients treated between 2000 and 2004 with zirconia FPDs were identified from the records of a manufacturer of FPD substructures. Of the 45 patients who met the inclusion criteria 30 attended the appointment and 33 FPDs were evaluated using modified California Dental Association (CDA) criteria. In addition, plaque and the bleeding index were registered. Patient satisfaction with the restorations was evaluated using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the FPDs were made using CAD/CAM and hot isostatic pressed yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (HIPed Y-TZP) ceramic (Denzir) and were placed within general practices. The mean observation period was 9.6±1.6 years (range 3.0-13.1 years). The CDA rating was 90% satisfactory for the surface. Corresponding figures for anatomic form, color and margin integrity were 94%, 100% and 94%, respectively. Regarding surface three (9.7%) FPDs exhibited veneer chipping and were rated 'not acceptable'. For margin integrity two (6.5%) were rated 'not acceptable' because of caries. For anatomic form two (6.1%) were rated 'not acceptable' due to two lost FPDs. No significant differences were seen between the FPDs and controls for plaque and bleeding. The Kaplan-Meier survival rate (still in clinical function) was 94%, the success rate (technical events accounted for) 91% and (biological events accounted for) 73%. Based on the VAS the mean value for patient satisfaction was 9.3±1.2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ninety-four percent of the FPDs were still in clinical function. HIPed Y-TZP could serve as an alternative for FPD treatments similar to those in the current study.
authors.affiliation: Dental Materials Science, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Håff
authors.affiliation: Dental Materials Science, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Löf
authors.affiliation: Prosthetic Dentitstry, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunne
authors.affiliation: Dental Materials Science, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: Goran.Sjogren@umu.se.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sjögren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C453860:Denzir; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: CAD/CAM; Ceramics; Clinical study; FPD; General practices; HIPed Y-TZP; Zirconia