Clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Clinical Dentistry

Background:

• Resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs) historically had low survival rates due to suboptimal tooth preparations and cement choices.
• Improvements in techniques and materials are crucial for enhancing RBFPD longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the survival rates of RBFPDs over a 45-month period.
• To evaluate the influence of anatomical location (anterior/posterior, maxilla/mandible) and pontic inclusion on RBFPD survival.
• To assess periodontal health of abutment teeth and controls.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 46 RBFPD insertions.
• Monitoring of RBFPD retention and integrity, noting failures due to debonding or fracture.
• Analysis of periodontal parameters (gingival scores, plaque scores) for abutments and control teeth.
• Statistical analysis to determine the impact of location and arch on survival rates.

Main Results:

• Eight RBFPDs lost retention, and two failed due to porcelain fractures.
• RBFPD survival rates were significantly influenced by their anterior-to-posterior location and whether they were placed in the maxillary or mandibular arch.
• Significant differences were observed in gingival scores between abutments and controls, but not in plaque scores.

Conclusions:

• RBFPD survival is significantly affected by placement location and arch.
• While gingival health around abutments is impacted, plaque accumulation did not show significant differences.
• Further research into optimal preparation and cementation strategies for RBFPDs is warranted.