Objectives

To investigate survival rates, technical and biologic outcomes of buccally micro-veneered allceramic single implant crowns.

Material and Methods

Sixty subjects randomly received immediately or early placed implants. Crowns out of lithiumdisilicate (n=30) and zirconia-ceramic (n=30) were bonded to titanium-base-abutments. Restorations were inspected at baseline (BL) and during follow-up-visits (6, 12-months). Technical and biologic parameters were recorded. Data were analysed descriptively. Differences between groups were tested with Student T-test. Paired T-test was used when comparing data from the same implant or tooth over time. Linear model repeated measures was used to test differences between materials over time. Differences in counts were valuated using Pearson Chi-square test. Level of significance was at p < 0.05.

Results

After a mean observation time of 13.2 months ± 2.4 months, 54 restorations were re-examined. The implant survival rate was 98.3 %, and the restoration survival rate was 100%. One early implant failure occurred. Two minor chippings occurred in lithium-disilicate restorations. No chippings or fractures occurred in any zirconia restorations at 1 year (0%). The technical complication rate was 3.7%, with 7.7% complications among the lithium-disilicate restorations and no differences between the two materials (p=0.558). At 1-year-follow-up, mean Bleeding on Probing (BOP) was higher at implants (0.27± 0.3) than adjacent teeth (0.17± 0.18) (p=0.046) with no differences between materials (p=0.36). Differences in Pocket Probing Depth (PPD) etween implants and adjacent teeth were significant (p< 0.01). Jemt Index improved significantly from BL to 1-y-follow-up (p< 0.001).

Conclusions

Preliminary results were good, suggesting that the ceramic type does not impact technical and biologic parameters.