Background: All-ceramic bilayer systems suffer from technique-sensitivity, resulting in increased technical complication rates. This might be overcome by monolithic reconstructions, facilitating digital workflows.
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and patient-reported outcome of CAD/CAM-fabricated implant-supported single crowns (ISCs) made of lithium disilicate (LS2 ) cemented on ceramic implants 5 years after implant installation.
Materials and methods: Twenty-four patients were included in the study. All participants received a one-piece ceramic implant in anterior (4 incisors) and posterior regions (10 premolars, 10 molars). LS2 crowns were computer-aided designed (CAD), manufactured (CAM) and adhesively luted onto the implants. Follow-ups were performed yearly up to 60 months after implant installation. The survival/success rates of the restorations were calculated according to modified US Public Health Service criteria as follows: Clinically relevant defects that could be repaired intraorally were accepted for survival, whereas small-area chippings, roughness (ø < 2 mm), slightly soundable marginal gaps, minimal undercontours/overcontours, and tolerable color deviations were accepted for success. Kaplan-Meier plots were used for the success/survival analyses. Furthermore, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were assessed by applying visual analog scales (VAS). Linear (PROMs) and logistic (USPHS criteria) mixed models were fitted to evaluate time effects on response variables.
Results: Twenty-two ISCs could be evaluated 55.2 ± 4.2 months after prosthetic delivery. Two patients were reported as drop-outs (1 died, 1 moved abroad). No failures were observed, resulting in 100% survival. At two ISCs, a major-roughness had to be treated. This resulted in a Kaplan-Meier success estimate of 91.7% (95%CI: 70.6%-97.9%). Compared with pretreatment, all surveys at prosthetic delivery except for self-esteem (P = .375) showed significantly improved VAS scores. No decrease in satisfaction could be observed over time until the end of follow-up (P ≥ .056).
Conclusion: Concerning survival/success rates and PROMs, the evaluated crown-implant system showed favorable mid-term results. To date, there are no comparable data available for implant-supported ISCs made of LS2 .
Keywords: CAD-CAM; ceramics; cohort study; crown; dental implant; dental porcelain; lithium disilicate; zirconia.
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.