Long-term clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures placed in a developing country

This study assesses the clinical performance of 92 resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (FPDs) placed at four private practices in Karachi, Pakistan, between 1982 and 1991.

The distribution of the FPDs was 9 perforated, 45 electrolytically etched, and 38 silicoated. Twenty-five FPDs replaced anterior teeth and 67 replaced posterior teeth. There were 66 FPDs with single pontics and 26 with multiple pontics. The perforated designs used a restorative composite for cementation, whereas the electrolytically etched and silicoated designs used a composite luting cement. The observation periods for the perforated, electrolytically etched and silicoated FPDs were 114, 99, and 30 months respectively.

During the evaluation period, 27 FPDs (29%) failed; of these, 4 were perforated, 18 were electrolytically etched, and 5 were silicoated. The mean (+/-SD) duration of the successful clinical service for all FPDs was 41 +/- 26 months. The mean time to failure for the FPDs that did not survive was 35 +/- 23 months. The silicoated FPDs tended to have early failure, as did the FPDs with multiple pontics and those in the mandibular arch. Anterior and posterior FPDs performed equally well.

These findings, in conjunction with those from Europe and North America, show that resin-bonded FPD technology is as successful in a developing country as in industrialized areas of the world.