Clinical Performance of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Resin Nanoceramic Endocrowns...

Background It is difficult to determine the optimal method for restoring endodontically treated teeth, as several factors affect this decision. Functional requirements and the amount of remaining coronal tissue are considered the most important factors in choosing the best restoration for those teeth. Endocrown was introduced as a conservative alternative for endodontically treated and coronally damaged teeth. Aim The aim of this study is to assess the clinical performance of the nanoceramic system for molar endocrowns by evaluating color change, gingival condition, prosthesis integrity, and the presence of secondary caries. Materials and methods The sample consisted of 20 endocrowns. The teeth were prepared with at least 2 mm of wall thickness and a cavity depth of 4 mm from the occlusal surface. The final impression was taken, and the prostheses were adhered using dual-cure resin cement. It was clinically evaluated according to clinical success criteria (United States Public Health Service) in terms of color stability, gingival indexes, integrity of the restoration, and the presence of secondary caries after a week, three months, six months, and a year. The statistical study was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and the results were considered statistically significant at the 95% level of significance. The Friedman test was used to study the significance of the differences in the average values of color change, plaque index, and the integrity of the prostheses during follow-up periods. Results The study showed a gradual increase in the degree of color change with follow-up periods. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the incidence of gingival changes, the integrity of the prosthetic margins, or the occurrence of secondary caries during the follow-up periods. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, an endocrown made of CeraSmart nanoceramic is an acceptable option for crowning decayed and endodontic-treated molars with acceptable clinical performance.