Three‐year clinical performance of monolithic and partially veneered zirconia ceramic fixed partial dentures

Objective To compare the 3‐year survival and success rates of monolithic (M) and partially veneered (PV) zirconia‐fixed partial dentures (FPDs). Materials and Methods Sixty‐seven FPDs (n = 33 M‐FPDs; n = 34 PV‐FPDs) were placed in 51 patients (n = 23 males; mean age 61.5 years) and clinically followed up 1 week, 6 months, and then yearly after placement. One hundred per cent (100%) of M‐FPDs and 70% of PV‐FPDs were located in the posterior region. Ninety‐two per cent (92%) of M‐FPDs had three units, whereas 50% of PV‐FPDs had more than three units. A facial veneer was present in 73% of the PV‐FPDs units. Survival and success were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared using the log‐rank test (α = .05). Results The mean observation period was 3.5 years for M‐FPDs and 3.1 years for PV‐FPDs. Most complications associated with FPDs were biological in nature. Ceramic defects occurred exclusively among PV‐FPDs. Three‐year survival was 96.7% for M‐FPDs and 93.8% for PV‐FPDs (P = .064). Three‐year success was 93.8% for M‐FPDs and 81.7% for PV‐FPDs (P = .039). Conclusions The use of both M‐FPDs and PV‐FPDs yielded clinically successful results over a mean period of 3 years. Clinical Significance By using monolithic or facially veneered zirconia, ceramic FPDs could be fabricated which showed only a minimum of technical complications over the period of investigation without sacrificing adequate esthetics.