PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report on the outcome of metal ceramic implant-supported fixed prostheses with milled titanium frameworks and all-ceramic crowns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical study included 108 patients (67 women, 41 men), mean age of 58.6 years (range: 34-82), followed between 9 months and 10 years (post occlusal loading). The mean follow-up time for all patients in the study was 5 years. A total of 125 prostheses were fabricated. The data were divided into 2 groups. Development group (DG): 52 patients with 66 prostheses (28 maxillary, 38 mandibular) fabricated with individual Procera crowns (Alumina copings, Nobel Biocare AB) and Allceram ceramics (Ducera Dental GmbH) cemented onto a CAD/CAM fabricated Ti framework (Nobel Biocare AB) with pink ceramic (Duceram, Ducera Dental GmbH) that replicated the missing gingival tissues. Routine group (RG): 56 patients with 59 prostheses (49 maxillary, 10 mandibular) fabricated with individual Procera crowns (Zirconia copings and Nobel Rondo Zirconia Ceramic; Nobel Biocare AB) cemented onto a CAD/CAM fabricated Ti framework (Nobel Biocare AB) with pink acrylic resin (PallaXpress Ultra, Heraeus Kulzer GmbH) that replicated the missing gingival tissues. Primary outcome measures were prosthetic survival and mechanical complications. Secondary outcome measures were biological complications testing the retrievability characteristic of the prosthesis. Survival estimates were calculated on the patient level with the Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator (95% confidence intervals [CI]). Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential analyses.

RESULTS

The cumulative survival rates for the implant-supported fixed prostheses were 92.4% for the DG at 10 years and 100% for the RG at 5 years (overall 96%) (Kaplan-Meier). Mechanical complications occurred in 44 patients (DG: 29 patients, 36 prostheses; RG: 15 patients, 16 prostheses); the large majority were crown fractures, occurring in 48 patients (DG: 33 patients, 36 prostheses; RG: 15 patients, 16 prostheses). In the DG, univariate analysis of logistic regression disclosed the presence of a metal ceramic implant-supported fixed prosthesis opposing dentition as a risk factor for crown fracture (OR = 1.97). Biological complications occurred in 33 patients (DG: 18 patients; RG: 15 patients), the majority being peri-implant pathologies in 19 patients (DG: 9 patients, RG: 10 patients). All situations were resolved except one in the DG that led to fixture and prosthesis loss.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicated that, within the limitations of this study, the CAD/CAM protocol is acceptable for definitive prosthetic rehabilitation. This protocol provided these patients with a good prognosis on a middle- to long-term basis (5 years).