Survival rates of CAD/CAM ceramic dental restorations: A meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the survival rates of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing ceramic dental restorations.

The study followed PRISMA guidelines and the study protocol was pre-registered on the PROSPERO platform (registration number: CRD42024599053). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies with a minimum follow-up period of 1-year were included. The search period was set from 2000 to May 2024. A Comprehensive Literature Search was Performed in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additionally, references list of relevant reviews and full-text articles were hand-searched to identify potentially eligible studies.

A total of 714 articles were identified in the initial search. After screening titles and abstracts, 31 studies were selected for full-text review. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 studies-comprising 13 RCTs and 12 cohort studies-were incorporated into the systematic review. Quality assessment and risk of bias were conducted using 2 established scales. Regarding survival rates, the overall heterogeneity (I2) among the RCTs was calculated at 23% (P = .17). The pooled survival rate across these trials was determined to be 96% (95% confidence interval: 94-98%), with a mean follow-up period extending from 12 to 64 months.

Ceramic restorations with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing have shown high survival rates in either randomized controlled studies or cohort studies. Meta-analysis results showed high heterogeneity in cohort studies, so randomized controlled studies with a larger number of participants are still needed to prove their clinical effectiveness.