Clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures and extracoronal attachments for removable prostheses.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: It is important to evaluate the long-term clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures and extracoronal attachments for removable prostheses.

PURPOSE: A prospective, long-term clinical study was conducted to evaluate the success of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures since 1985 and of resin-bonded extracoronal attachments from 1987.

METHODS: Until 1993, a total of 130 resin-bonded fixed partial dentures had been seated in 101 patients, as well as 12 removable partial dentures (RPDs) with 24 extracoronal retainers in 10 patients. The clinical treatment protocol and the laboratory procedures were standardized. By the end of 1993, it was possible to reexamine 98 patients with a total of 127 resin-bonded fixed partial dentures and all 10 patients with removable partial dentures. The average time in function for the resin-bonded fixed partial dentures at the time of examination was 3.4 years and 2.3 years for the removable restorations.

RESULTS: During the period of observation, one retainer failed on six of the resin-bonded fixed partial dentures, which represents a failure rate of 4.7%. Debonding of extracoronal attachments was recorded for 8.3% of the total number of retainers.

CONCLUSION: The resin-bonded fixed partial denture technique can be considered to be a clinically reliable method of treatment, and permits the expansion of indications beyond a classical three-unit resin-bonded fixed partial denture. Long-term clinical success of removable partial dentures with resin-bonded extracoronal retainers warrants additional clinical studies.