A 25-Year Retrospective Study on Prosthetic Rehabilitation with Bonded Ceramics of Patients with Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the long-term performance of bonded all-ceramic restorations, specifically veneers, in patients with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). There are few studies of long-term outcomes using a minimally invasive procedure in these patients. This aspect is essential when treating young patients. All-ceramic restorations, especially veneers, offer a more tissue-preserving treatment but rely on successful bonding. However, due to the defect enamel in AI patients, the bond strength is lower.

Materials and methods: A retrospective evaluation of 40 subjects with AI (26 women, 14 men) was provided with a total of 360 bonded restorations (282 veneers, 78 crowns). The restorations were evaluated according to complications, survival, and success rate.

Results: The patients were observed up to 25.3 years (mean 15.4 ± 4.3 years). The mean age when receiving the restorations was 18.5 ± 4.2 years. In total, 59 (16.4%) restorations with prosthetic complications were made, 29 of which (8.1%) were remade (6 due to esthetic reasons, all in one patient) and 30 (8.3%) were recemented (60% caused by trauma). We found 11 teeth with caries and 3 with endodontic complications. The overall survival rate was 91.9%, and the overall success rate was 83.6%.

Conclusions: Bonded all-ceramic restorations with no active retention in AI patients have excellent performance. The most common complications were debonding and fractures. The treatment should be based on individual indications and be preceded by a multidisciplinary approach.