10-YEAR PERIODONTAL RESPONSE TO RESIN-BONDED BRIDGES

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY was to evaluate the long-term (10 years +/- 15 months) periodontal response to resin bonded bridges (RBRs). A tota l of 103 patients who had RBRs bonded between 1980 and 1984 were recal led. Periodontal evaluations were made by two clinicians for all abutm ent teeth and for selected control teeth with intact, non-restored lin gual surfaces. Periodontal indices consisted of: plaque index (PI), gi ngival index (GI), gingival recession, probing depth, and loss of atta chment. Paired t tests indicated no significant difference in overall GI between experimental and control sites, but a significant differenc e in PI and probing depth with experimental sites (abutment teeth) sho wing higher PI and greater probing depths. Significant differences wer e found in overall recession and attachment loss, again with more rece ssion and attachment loss observed on the abutment teeth as compared t o the controls. Site specific analyses for PI, probing, and loss of at tachment showed small but significant differences between experimental and control teeth in 15 of 21 sites. Although these findings may be s tatistically significant, the clinical impact for resin bonded restora tions functioning for over 10 years is minimal and is comparable to pe riodontal response to other types of restorations.