Three-year clinical prospective evaluation of zirconia-based posterior fixed dental prostheses (FDPs)

This clinical study evaluated posterior three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) made of zirconia substructures veneered with pressable glass-ceramic. Nineteen patients received 21 FDPs replacing either the second premolar, first molar, or second molar. The FDPs were cemented with glass ionomer. Recall examinations were performed every 12 months. The mean service time of the FDP was 40 months. At 30 months, one maxillary FDP exhibited zirconia framework fracture at a thinned occlusal area of the abutment. Loss of retention led to the removal of one FDP after 38 months. The Kaplan-Meier survival probability was 90.5% after 40 months for all types of failures and 95.2% concerning framework fractures. The overpressing technique appears to be reliable in terms of the veneering material. However, one framework fracture was observed in this study.