Purpose: This study prospectively evaluated the clinical performance of posterior zirconium-oxide-based all-ceramic fixed partial dentures (FPDs).
Methods: Forty-two abutments of 21 Cercon FPDs were fitted in 20 patients at the Tsurumi University Dental Hospital from August 2005 to August 2006. The performance of these FPDs was evaluated using the California Dental Association (CDA) quality assessment system at baseline and at all follow-up examinations.
Results: All FPDs were examined after a mean observation period of 28.1 (+/- 3.4) months. During the observation period, no fracturing of FPDs was seen. All of the FPDs examined were rated as satisfactory with regard to all factors at the follow-up examinations based on the CDA quality assessment criteria.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this short-term clinical study, no core framework fractures were seen. According to the CDA criteria, 100% of the FPDs were rated as satisfactory during this observation period. (C) 2010 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland. All rights reserved.