Survival of anterior metal ceramic and porcelain veneered zirconia cantilever resin bonded fixed dental prostheses

Abstract

Objective: To compare the survival rates of anterior cantilever porcelain veneered zirconia and metal ceramic resin bonded bridges when used for the restoration of a missing maxillary central incisor.

Method: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the de ’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore, from July 4, 2022, to August 7, 2023, and comprised patients aged at least 14 years of either gender having a missing maxillary central incisor. They were divided into group A receiving anterior cantilever metal ceramic resin bonded bridges, and group B receiving anterior cantilever porcelain veneered zirconia resin bonded bridges. The restorations were clinically evaluated after cementation at baseline (one week) and then at 3, 6 and 12 months to determine the survival rate in terms of debonding, cracks/chipping/fracture, gingival health and plaque accumulation around restoration, postoperative hypersensitivity and aesthetic outcome with respect to staining of the restorations. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

Results: Of the 30 patients, 15(50%) were in group A with mean age 22.1±5.9 years (range: 14-34 years), while 15(50%) were in group B with mean age 26.3±7.3 (range: 16-41 years) (p>0.05). No significant difference was found in debonding, cracks/chipping/fracture and postoperative hypersensitivity between the groups (p>0.50. Group B had superior gingival health and less plaque accumulation than group A (p<0.001). The survival of the restorations with regard to the aesthetic outcome was 15(100.0%) in both the groups.

Conclusion: Anterior cantilever porcelain veneered zirconia resin bonded bridges could be used as an aesthetic alternative to metal ceramic resin bonded bridges due to their excellent survival rates in terms of technical and biological outcomes.

Keywords: Zirconium, Dental porcelain, Dental prosthesis design, Resin cements, Aesthetics, Dental.