Abstract
Purpose: The advantages of aesthetic restoration materials are good biocompatibility and lack of toxicity compared with metal restorations. Glass-fiber-reinforced composite material Targis/Vectris (Ivoclar-Vivadent, FL) was observed by a microscope and the composition analyzed. As a result, it was judged that the material was good for clinical use. This material was used in dental treatments in 1997. However, the glass-fiber-reinforced restorations often fractured. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical strength of the glass-fiber-reinforced restorations by cohort analysis.
Methods: The glass-fiber-reinforced restorations were made according to the manual of the manufacturer. A total of 29 patients who had 73 glass-fiber-reinforced restorations were investigated by questionnaire survey between June 25th, 1999 and September 7th, 2000 at Aichigakuin University Dental Hospital.
Result: These restorations were investigated after a maximum of 8 years. In all, 35 of 73 (47.9%) restorations were fractured, including cracks and chipping; 6 of 14 inlays (42.9%), 14 of 43 crowns (32.5%), 15 of 16 bridges (93.8%) were fractured. Survival rate calculated according to Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit method suggested that 57.1% of inlays, 69.0% of crowns, and 6.7% of bridges will remain unbroken in 8 years' time.
Conclusions: Clinicians should not use materials developed by new concepts or techniques too quickly. Instead we think that long-term clinical evaluation is needed for safety and durability.
