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Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Quasistatic Mechanical Testing for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Occlusal Veneers Cemented to Milled Dentin Analog Material
Published on: December 20, 2024
Three-year clinical performance of monolithic and partially veneered zirconia ceramic fixed partial dentures
Yasamin Habibi1, Marie-Theres Dawid1, Moritz Waldecker1
1Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Objective:
To compare the 3-year survival and success rates of monolithic (M) and partially veneered (PV) zirconia-fixed partial dentures (FPDs).
Materials And Methods:
Sixty-seven FPDs (n = 33 M-FPDs; n = 34 PV-FPDs) were placed in 51 patients (n = 23 males; mean age 61.5 years) and clinically followed up 1 week, 6 months, and then yearly after placement. One hundred per cent (100%) of M-FPDs and 70% of PV-FPDs were located in the posterior region. Ninety-two per cent (92%) of M-FPDs had three units, whereas 50% of PV-FPDs had more than three units. A facial veneer was present in 73% of the PV-FPDs units. Survival and success were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test (α = .05).
Results:
The mean observation period was 3.5 years for M-FPDs and 3.1 years for PV-FPDs. Most complications associated with FPDs were biological in nature. Ceramic defects occurred exclusively among PV-FPDs. Three-year survival was 96.7% for M-FPDs and 93.8% for PV-FPDs (P = .064). Three-year success was 93.8% for M-FPDs and 81.7% for PV-FPDs (P = .039).
Conclusions:
The use of both M-FPDs and PV-FPDs yielded clinically successful results over a mean period of 3 years.
Clinical Significance:
By using monolithic or facially veneered zirconia, ceramic FPDs could be fabricated which showed only a minimum of technical complications over the period of investigation without sacrificing adequate esthetics.
