Clinical performance of empress reconstructions in a university clinic: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate empress crowns/onlays placed in patients treated by dentistry students at the University clinic in Tromsø. Material and methods: A total of 37 empress restorations placed in 26 patients were evaluated according to the California Dental Association´s (CDA) quality evaluation system. All of the reconstructions were luted with resin composite cement. The mean and median age of the restorations was 13.8 and 11 months respectively. Results: All of the 26 patients were satisfied with the treatment process but two patients had complains concerning functional outcome of the treatment. The survival rate according to the Kaplan Meier method was 94.8 %. Based on the CDA criteria, in the category ‘Anatomic form’, 84 % of the reconstructions were given the score SOCO (= restoration is slightly overcontoured). In the category ‘Color’ the CDA code SMM (= mismatch between restoration and tooth) was registered in 54% of the reconstructions. In the category ‘Surface’, 56 % received the code SRO (= surface of restoration is slightly rough or pitted). Conclusions: The majority of the patients were very satisfied with the overall treatment received at the university clinic. The relatively high number of restorations reported as slightly over- contoured might indicate the need for improvement upon the preparation procedures of empress reconstructions. A longer observation period and more restorations are needed to draw any firm long- term conclusions for the overall quality of empress restorations made by dentistry students. Key words: Clinical study, all-ceramic crowns, glass ceramics, survival rate