THE SURVIVAL RATE OF BRIDGES - A STUDY OF 1674 BRIDGES IN 40 DUTCH GENERAL PRACTICES

The survival rate of 1674 bridges and the influence of several factors on the lifetime of bridges were analysed, based on data from patient records that belonged to a random sample of 40 Dutch general practices . It appears that the 12 year survival rate of the bridges is 87%. The re is a significant difference in the survival rate between the bridge s that meet and do not meet Ante's law, and only a weak significant di fference between the bridges with vital vs. nonvital abutment teeth. G ender and age of the patient, length of the bridge, presence of a post and core build-up, or the construction of the bridge (conventional fi xed vs. cantilever pontic) appear to have no influence on the survival rate of the bridges in this sample.