Quality of extensive fixed prosthodontics after five years

A group of 150 patients who had received extensive restorative treatment 5 years prior to this study was selected at random from the Swedish Dental Insurance System records in Malmo. Of the 133 respondents to a questionnaire, 109 participated in a clinical evaluation of 891 restorations including 498 crowns, 232 pontics, 6 removable partial dentures, and 155 adjacent or opposing metallic restorations. The clinical evaluation was performed by two trained examiners by means of the CDA quality evaluation for dental care. Ninety percent of the crowns and pontics, 80% of the adjacent or opposing metallic restorations, and all six partial dentures were rated satisfactory. Twenty-three percent of the crowns, 49% of the pontics, 17% of the adjacent or opposing restorations, and half the partial dentures rated in the range of excellence. Not acceptable ratings for crowns included 3.4% T ratings and 6.6% V ratings. For pontics, the corresponding percents were 9.5% and 0.4%, respectively. T ratings were in most cases indicative of overcontouring, whereas V ratings for crowns were usually given because of secondary caries. Marginal periodontitis was mainly associated with not acceptable ratings but was also observed in connection with satisfactory restorations. Only 2% of the restorations had been lost during the 5-year period after insertion.