Objectives: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to investigate the survival rate, technical and biologic complications of leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic crowns after a follow-up time of 13-15 years.
Material and methods: Fifty-three patients with 131 crowns were invited to the follow-up visit. The reconstructions were re-examined clinically and radiographically using the modified USPHS criteria and periodontal parameters of probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque index (PI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI). Patient satisfaction and post-operative sensitivity of the abutment teeth were evaluated with a questionnaire. The overall survival rate and the Kaplan-Meier survival estimate were calculated both on crown and patient level. Technical and biological complications were reported descriptively on crown level. The p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Thirty-eight patients (12 men, 26 women) with 93 crowns were examined. The overall survival rate of all the crowns was 79.6% after a mean observation period of 14.4 ± 1.2 years. Most of the failures occurred after 11.1 years. The most common clinical failures were inacceptable ceramic fractures or chippings, which occurred in 5 out of 93 crowns (5.4%) and periodontitis, seen in 4 out of 93 teeth (4.3%). The most frequent technical complications were related to occlusal wear. Biological complications were not common.
Conclusions: Leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic crowns showed a high survival rate of 79.6% after an observation period of 13-15 years. Ceramic fractures and periodontitis accounted for the majority of clinical failures.
Clinical significance: Leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic crowns can be considered a safe and predictable treatment choice for restoring both anterior and posterior teeth.
Keywords: Follow-up; Leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic; Retrospective study; Single crowns; Survival analysis.
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