Failures in Fixed Dental Prostheses: A Clinical Survey on Causes and Longevity

Abstract

Crown and bridge failures are considered one of the most frequent challenges that dentists deal with on a daily basis. The aim of the current study was to assess the causes of failures in fixed dental prostheses in patients reporting to the dental clinics at Ahram Canadian University, Cairo, Egypt. Using a comprehensive clinical survey, causes of failures and serviceability patterns of the fixed dental prostheses (FDP) were explored in a sample of 80 patients (mean age 39.7±11) visiting the clinic for complications related to FDP. Patients were clinically and radiographically examined, and all symptoms related to their complaints were recorded. Descriptive analysis was performed, and SPSS version 22 was used for statistics. Results indicated that most of the failures were mechanical in nature (30%), followed by biological failures (20%), and then aesthetics reasons (11%). 45.7 % of the FDP served for 1-5 years, 28.6 % served for 6-12 months, 14.30% served for more than 5 years, while the least numbers of prostheses (11.4%) served for less than 6 months. Proper patient selection, diagnosis, and treatment planning is essential to maintain and increase the longevity of FDP. It is also crucial to educate patients about good dental hygiene and prosthesis maintenance as well as for the dentist to fully recognize the disadvantages of each dental material to prevent the problems they induce and be able to make the best decision.