Clinical evaluation of resin-bonded bridges: a retrospective study

Eighty-five patients with a total of 103 resin-bonded bridges placed by practitioners at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry between 1982 and 1989 were recalled for a clinical evaluation of their restorations. Tissue condition, patient satisfaction, bridge failures by location and by sex of patient, and average length of service for both successful and failed bridges were recorded. After an average service of 3.25 years, 12.6% of the fixed partial dentures had debonded. Debondings occurred most frequently in the mandibular arch. Failures occurred more frequently in men than in women, and prostheses with more than two retainers had twice the probability for problems.