Eleven-Year Retrospective Survival Study of 275 Veneered Lithium Disilicate Single Crowns

The aim of the present clinical retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term survival and clinical performance of veneered lithium disilicate single restorations in anterior and posterior areas after up to 11 years. Following a rigid protocol, 275 lithium disilicate single crowns (35 IPS Empress II and 240 e.max Press) were cemented over 11 years, in 106 patients, using an adhesive technique; of these 106 were anterior (38.5%) and 169 posterior (61.5%) teeth. Teeth receiving endodontic therapy and composite reconstruction (50%) and teeth with preexisting metalceramic crowns, called prosthetic retreatments (PR; 65%), were included as well. Of the 106 patients enrolled in the study, 25 (23.5%) were diagnosed with bruxism habits, and 7 of these patients (6.6% of all patients) received full-mouth single lithium disilicate restorations (FMR). The exclusion criteria for this retrospective clinical study were: monolithic lithium disilicate crowns, teeth with cast post and cores, implant-supported all-ceramic crowns, active periodontitis, and/or poor oral hygiene. Clinical reevaluation was performed by the clinicians who prepared and luted them during maintenance appointments between January 2012 and October 2013. Number of restoration failures and characteristics of failures were recorded. Marginal adaptation and marginal discoloration were evaluated based on the Cvar-Ryge criteria. The overall cumulative survival rate was 98.2%. The failures recorded were the result of either mechanical failure or debonding. Five crowns failed mechanically-three because of chipping and two because of core fracture-and were replaced. None of the failed crowns was associated with the bruxers with FMR. A total of 15 crowns debonded (5.5% of all crowns); however, 11 belonged to the same patient who had endodontically treated and reconstructed abutments. In this retrospective clinical evaluation of up to 132 months, veneered lithium disilicate single crowns had a low failure rate.