Clinical performance of machined titanium restorations

In 37 patients 88 titanium restorations were placed during a 1-year period 1990-91. The 69 crowns and 19 fixed partial dentures comprised 147 prosthodontic units. All restorations were fabricated by duplication milling and electrical discharge machining of pure titanium (Procera Technology, Nobelpharma, Gothenburg, Sweden). Based on the results of clinical follow-up, Kaplan-Meier survivor functions were calculated. The survivor rate of 40 metal crowns and pontics was 100%. In 107 porcelain-fused-to-metal units the 3-year survivor rate concerning removal was 95%. When relating the survival to an intact ceramic veneer, the 3-year survivor rate of porcelain-fused-to-metal units was 84%. The quality of the restorations evaluated by the rating system of the California Dental Association was found to be satisfactory in the vast majority of cases. It can be concluded that machined titanium restorations are suitable for clinical use, although not all problems, especially in the field of metal-ceramics have yet been completely solved.