Clinical survival of chair-side generated monolithic lithium disilicate crowns:10-year results

Original Article

Abstract

Objectives

Nowadays, all-ceramic materials are routinely used within the treatment of patients in dentistry. The objective of this prospective clinical trial was the evaluation of chair-side generated monolithic lithium disilicate crowns after 10 years.

Materials and methods

Forty-one posterior full contour crowns made of lithium disilicate ceramics were inserted with a self-adhesive resin cement in 34 patients (20 university/14 private practice) using a chair-side CAD/CAM technique. One crown per patient was randomly selected for evaluation according to the modified US Public Health Service criteria.

Results

After a mean examination time of 10.1 years, 26 crowns were available for re-examination. Within the observation period, five failures occurred due to one crown fracture after 2.9 years, an abutment fracture after 6.0 years, one severe endodontic problem after 6.1 years, a root fracture after 7.0 years, and a replacement of one crown caused by a carious lesion after 10 years. Complications occurred as retention loss of one crown, two carious lesions, and a change in sensibility perception of two abutment teeth. All events were associated with molars. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a survival rate of 83.5% and a complication-free rate of 71.0% after 10 years.

Conclusion

Due to the small amount of technical complications and failures, the clinical performance of monolithic lithium disilicate crowns was completely satisfying.

Clinical relevance

The insertion of chair-side fabricated monolithic lithium disilicate crowns can be recommended for long-term use in the posterior region.

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