Survival of Dicor glass-ceramic dental restorations over 14 years: Part I. Survival of Dicor complete coverage restorations and effect of internal surface acid etching, tooth position, gender, and age.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM There are no long-term data on Dicor glass-ceramic restoration survival in the human oral cavity and the effect that different technical and clinical variables have on survival. PURPOSE This prospective study examined the relationship of different clinical parameters on the survival of Dicor glass-ceramic restorations in the human oral cavity. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 417 subjects (from 17 to 91 years of age) participated. All subjects required single unit fixed prosthodontics in any area of the mouth and/or 3-unit fixed partial dentures or cantilevered anterior restorations. They were offered the option of a gold or conventional metal-ceramic restoration, or a Dicor restoration with potentially improved esthetic results, better wear characteristics, and diminished oral plaque accumulation. Overall survival of the restorations was determined and the effect of various clinical parameters evaluated with Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Log rank tests were used to determine statistically significant differences among parameters. RESULTS For the 1444 units placed, 188 failures were recorded. Total time at risk for the units was 7319 years providing an estimated risk of 2.45% per year. Probabilities of survival of "typical" acid-etched Dicor and nonacid-etched Dicor restorations were 76% and 50%, respectively, at 14.1 years (P <.001). Probabilities of survival of typical acid-etched and nonacid-etched Dicor complete coverage restorations were virtually identical to those observed in the full data set. There was a 2.2 times greater risk of failure associated with the use of nonacid-etched Dicor complete coverage than acid-etched restorations (P <.01). Complete coverage restoration survival was highest in the incisor region and decreased to the molars in both arches. Second molars showed the highest failure rate. No complete coverage restorations failed on lateral incisors during the entire study. Probability of survival of a typical acid-etched Dicor complete coverage restoration in male subjects was 71%, and 75% for female subjects at 14.1 years (P <.01). The major difference appeared to be due to a greater failure rate in the maxillary arch of the male. Survivor functions of acid-etched Dicor complete coverage restorations for subjects in <33 years, 33 to 52 years, and 52 years age groups were 88% at 9 years, 62% at 14 years, and 82% at 14 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Dicor restorations can survive successfully over time with certain reservations. Long-term survival improved significantly when restorations were acid-etched before luting. Complete coverage restoration failures per year decreased from molars to incisors in both arches, suggesting that complete coverage restorations on molars represented a serious risk. No Dicor complete coverage restoration on lateral incisors failed during the study. Restorations failed less often in female than male subjects.