Practice-based clinical evaluation of zirconia abutments for anterior single-tooth restorations

This study aimed to determine the survival rate and prevalence of biologic and technical complications associated with single-tooth implants with all-ceramic abutments in the anterior region.

A total of 33 patients were restored with 50 anterior implants and temporarily luted all-ceramic crowns on prefabricated zirconia abutments. All of the patients subsequently received annual supportive maintenance; 27 patients (18 women, 22-74 years) with 42 implants participated in the final maintenance visit and were included in the study (follow-up 78.1 ± 27.0 months). The time-dependent survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) and the frequency of prosthetic complications (abutment fracture [AF], screw loosening [SL], fracture of veneering ceramics [VF], retention loss [RL]) and biologic complications (peri-implantitis) were calculated to determine the success rates.

No implant loss (implant-related survival rate 100%) but one abutment fracture occurred throughout the entire observation period; therefore, the survival rate of the superstructures (in situ criterion) was 97.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.930- 1.000) after 7 years. Eleven restorations were affected by prosthetic complications: RL (n = 4), VF (n = 5), and SL (n = 2). Peri-implantitis was diagnosed for two implants (probing depth > 5 mm, bleeding on probing [BOP]/suppuration, and bone loss > 3 mm) (implant-related peri-implantitis rate 4.8%). No restoration required replacement due to complications. The success rate (event-free restoration) was 75.9% (95% CI 0.636- 0.882) after 7 years.

Considering the calculated survival rate, the application of all-ceramic zirconia implant abutments in the anterior region can be recommended as a reliable therapy in private practice. Fractures of veneering ceramics were the most common prosthetic complication.