Practice-based clinical evaluation of metalceramic and zirconia molar crowns: 3-year results

Abstract

This practice-based study evaluates the clinical performance of conventionally luted metalceramic and zirconia molar crowns fabricated with pronounced anatomical core design and a prolonged cooling period of the veneering porcelain. Fifty-three patients were treated from 07/2008 until 07/2009 with either metalceramic crowns (MCC) (high-noble alloy+low-fusing porcelain) or zirconia crowns (Cercon System, DeguDent, Germany). Forty-nine patients (30 women/19 men) with 100 restorations (metalceramic: 48/zirconia: 52, mean observational period: 36 center dot 5 +/- 6months) participated in a clinical follow-up examination and were included in the study. Time-dependent survival (in situ criteria), success (event-free restorations) and chipping rates (defects of the veneering ceramics) were calculated according to the KaplanMeier method and analysed in relation to the crown fabrication technique, using a Cox regression model (P<0 center dot 05). Three complete failures (metalceramic: 1, zirconia: 2) were recorded (survival rate after 3years: metalceramic: 97 center dot 6%, zirconia: 95 center dot 2%). Of the metalceramic restorations, 90 center dot 9% remained event-free (two ceramic fractures, one endodontic treatment), whereas the success rate for the zirconia was 86 center dot 8% (two ceramic fractures, one endodontic treatment, one secondary caries). No significant differences in survival (P=0 center dot 53), success (P=0 center dot 49) and ceramic fracture rates (P=0 center dot 57) were detected. The combination of a pronounced anatomical core design and a modified firing of the veneering porcelain for the fabrication of zirconia molar crowns resulted in a 3-year survival, success and chipping rate comparable to MCC.