Dental Biofilm Accumulation and Gingival Health of Teeth with Fixed Single Prosthesis Fabricated by Various Prosthetic Materials.

Background Periodontal health plays an important role in maintaining the health of natural teeth as well as in the success of all dental procedures. Fixed single prosthesis (dental crown) can be fabricated with different types of prosthetic restorative materials like Metal, Ceramic, Ceramic fused to metal. These different materials have different affinity for plaque accumulation leading to the development of gingival inflammation and periodontal disease. Objective To determine the amount of Plaque accumulation and gingival health of teeth with a fixed single prosthesis fabricated by various Prosthetic materials. Method This quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2021 to March 2022. The patients who visited the hospital after six months of use of the prosthesis enrolled and were categorized into three groups according to the material used for the prosthesis metal, ceramic, and metal-ceramic. The periodontal condition was assessed using the plaque index and gingival index. Result A total of 136 patients (78 female and 58 male) were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 39.44 ± 16.23 years (Range 19 - 70 years). There were 47 patients with ceramic crowns, 39 patients with metallic, and 50 patients with metal ceramic crowns. The mean plaque index of metal, ceramic, and metal-ceramic crowns was found 1.15 ± 0.546, 0.86 ± 0.479, and 0.93 ± 0.498 respectively. Similarly, the mean gingival index of metal, ceramic, and metal-ceramic crown were 1.22 ± 0.56, 0.91 ± 0.48, and 1.09 ± 0.55 respectively. Conclusion The dental biofilm (plaque) accumulation and hence gingival inflammation is less in ceramic crowns than in metal and metal-ceramic crowns.