Dentist material selection for single-unit crowns: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.
Dentists enrolled in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network completed a study questionnaire about techniques and materials used for single-unit crowns and an enrollment questionnaire about dentist/practice characteristics. The objectives were to quantify dentists' material recommendations and test the hypothesis that dentist's and practice's characteristics are significantly associated with these recommendations.



Surveyed dentists responded to a contextual scenario asking what material they would use for a single-unit crown on an anterior and posterior tooth. Material choices included: full metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), all-zirconia, layered zirconia, lithium disilicate, leucite-reinforced ceramic, or other.



1777 of 2132 eligible dentists responded (83%). The top 3 choices for anterior crowns were lithium disilicate (54%), layered zirconia (17%), and leucite-reinforced glass ceramic (13%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) by dentist's gender, race, years since graduation, practice type, region, practice busyness, hours worked/week, and location type. The top 3 choices for posterior crowns were all-zirconia (32%), PFM (31%), and lithium disilicate (21%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) by dentist's gender, practice type, region, practice busyness, insurance coverage, hours worked/week, and location type.



Network dentists use a broad range of materials for single-unit crowns for anterior and posterior teeth, adopting newer materials into their practices as they become available. Material choices are significantly associated with dentist's and practice's characteristics.



Decisions for crown material may be influenced by factors unrelated to tooth and patient variables. Dentists should be cognizant of this when developing an evidence-based approach to selecting crown material.
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States. Electronic address: smakhija@uab.edu.
Sonia K
SK
Makhija
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
Nathaniel C
NC
Lawson
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
Gregg H
GH
Gilbert
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
Mark S
MS
Litaker
Private Practice of General Dentistry, Alabaster, AL, United States.
Jocelyn A
JA
McClelland
HealthPartners Dental Group, Woodbury, MN, United States.
David R
DR
Louis
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Operative Dentistry Division, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Valeria V
VV
Gordan
Kaiser Permanente, Portland, OR, United States.
Daniel J
DJ
Pihlstrom
University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Rochester, NY, United States.
Cyril
C
Meyerowitz
Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, United States.
Rahma
R
Mungia
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
Michael S
MS
McCracken
D003442:Crowns; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D003815:Dentists; D006801:Humans
D003776:Dental Porcelain
Crowns; Dental materials; Dentistry; Prosthodontics
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