Prognosis of zirconia ceramic fixed partial dentures : a 7-year prospective study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the time-dependent clinical efficacy of anterior and posterior zirconia fixed partial dentures (FPDs). A convenience sample of 28 patients, each wearing 1 FPD, was recalled annually throughout a 6-year follow-up period (mean: 6.5 years). Four patients did not participate in the study (dropouts), and 24 FPDs were in use during the observation period. The cumulative survival and success rates were 88.9% and 81.8%, respectively. Fixed prostheses with zirconia frameworks may be regarded as acceptable alternatives to metal-ceramic anterior and posterior FPDs