4-YEAR CLINICAL-STUDY OF CASTABLE CERAMIC CROWNS

Purpose: To evaluate the 4-year clinical performance of castable glass ceramic crowns used to restore teeth in the posterior segments. Mater ials and Methods: 101 castable ceramic (Dicor) full crown restorations were placed in 61 molar and 40 premolar teeth using a bonded resin ce ment. Results: After 4 years of clinical performance, 15 of the origin al 101 restorations were known to have failed with 13 of those failure s affecting molar restorations. All serviceable restorations were rate d as excellent for color match, margin adaptation, proximal contact an d gingival health. Cavosurface margin discoloration received a 93.5% a lfa response. The results of this study show that Dicor crowns meet th e esthetic and biological requirements for posterior restorations. The incidence of fracture of molar restorations in this study indicated t hat when used for restoring molars, careful case selection and caution must be employed.