Retrospective, Multi-center, Cohort Study Evaluating Clinical, Technical, Biological, and Esthetic Outcomes of Implant Supported Zirconia Single Crowns Cemented on Titanium-base Abutments: 7-year Mean Follow-up.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the long-term clinical, technical, biological, and esthetic outcomes of implant supported single zirconia crowns (ISCs) intraorally cemented to Ti-base hybrid-abutments up to 16 years after placement.

Materials and methods: A total of 63 ISCs (Xive S, Camlog Screw Line, Replace Select TC NP, Branemark MK II, and 3i Osseotite) were evaluated in 36 patients at two different centers. Original Ti-bases were selected and zirconia meso structures and zirconia crowns were designed using CAD/CAM software and then milled from partially stabilized zirconia blocks. After the meso structures were cemented extraorally onto the Ti-bases, the ceramic crowns were intraorally luted to the hybrid abutments. The Ti-base ISC restorations were followed up for up to 16 years, and their clinical, biological, and esthetic outcomes were recorded at distinct time points (T1; T2) at three-year intervals.

Results: 36 patients (18 men, 18 women) received 32 ISCs in the anterior region and 31 in the posterior region of the maxilla and mandible. The mean follow-up of the Ti-base ISCs was 6.93 ± 2.60 years. The mean follow-up of the implants amounted to 8.11 ± 3.26 years. No implants were lost during follow-up, resulting in a cumulative implant survival rate of 100%. Abutment screw loosening was observed in two ISCs after one year in service. The overall cumulative restorative survival rate of the Ti-base restorations reached thus 96.83%. At T2 follow-up 24% of the ISCs exhibited an increase in PD despite maintaining clinically healthy peri-implant tissue. An 11% increase in BOP and a 3.17% decrease in PI were recorded. Despite spectrophotometrically measured ΔE values indicating visible discoloration of some restorations and their peri-implant soft tissue, a low incidence of esthetic complications was observed with an average PES/WES score of ≥ 12. No correlation was found between PES (R = -0.25; p = 0.27) and WES (R = -0.18; p = 0.43) scores and digital shade determination.

Conclusions: The results of the present retrospective, multicenter, cohort study indicate satisfactory clinical outcomes for intraorally cemented single zirconia crowns (ISCs) supported by Ti-base hybrid abutments. An overall esthetic superiority of Ti-base ISCs could not be confirmed.