Treatment times for adhesive bridges

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Clinical Dentistry
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Adhesive bridges offer a conservative treatment option for missing teeth.
• Understanding the time required for clinical procedures is crucial for dental practice efficiency.
• Variability in working time can affect patient scheduling and cost-benefit analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the mean working time for applying adhesive bridges.
• To identify factors influencing the duration of adhesive bridge placement procedures.
• To provide data for optimizing dental practice workflow and cost analysis.

Main Methods:

• A clinical trial involving 151 patients and five operators.
• Standardized clinical procedures for adhesive bridge application.
• Statistical analysis using ANOVA after log-transformation of working times.

Main Results:

• The mean working time for adhesive bridges was 60.7 minutes (±16.5 min).
• Working time increased by 30% with pre-existing class II or III restorations on abutment teeth.
• Operator experience significantly reduced working time by up to 35%.

Conclusions:

• Operator experience and abutment tooth restoration status are key factors affecting adhesive bridge placement time.
• Bridge type, luting resin, and bridge location did not significantly influence working time.
• This data aids in efficient dental practice planning and cost-benefit assessments for adhesive bridges.