Long‐term survival characteristics of 832 resin‐retained bridges and splints provided in a post‐graduate teaching hospital between 1978 and 1993

Abstract

The clinical performance of 832 resin-retained bridges and splints provided in the adult fixed prosthodontic clinic of a post-graduate teaching hospital was reviewed. Recall data was available for 58.4% of cases and the median survival was 7 years and 10 months. Analysis of clinical variables influencing survival revealed that the design and retainer coverage were significant factors. The experience of the operator carrying out treatment also had a pronounced effect which was not readily explained in terms of the distribution of other significant factors. Resin-retained restorations made with minimal tooth preparation are shown to be capable of extended clinical service and their failure rarely resulted in adverse consequences for the patient. Patient satisfaction with their treatment was reportedly high.

An audit of prosthodontics undertaken in general dental practice in the South East of England

“…This could be due to lack of training and perhaps the trust of GDPs on their longevity. 10 Perhaps the undergraduate curriculum needs to concentrate more on bridges in conjunction with the shortened dental arch for suitable patients. 11 Acrylic dentures were still favoured in NHS general practice and it would seem reasonable that teaching needs to continue in this area.…”

The influence of specialty training, experience, discussion and reflection on decision making in modern restorative treatment planning

“…Current research has resulted in a better understanding of the adhesive process and techniques in improving long-term success rates may have been more familiar to recently qualified delegates and specialist trainees. 17 Delegates qualifying recently were more likely to reconsider their decisions postdiscussion. This may represent a lack of knowledge and realisation of the potential pitfalls of the case and possibly the inability to deal with these.…”

“…As the bridgework would be spanning a wide space, specialist delegates may have perceived a risk of debond or failure to be fairly high. 17 The option of removable partial dentures was not popular by any grades. This may be related to the greater social acceptability and demand for fixed restorations in comparison to a removable denture.…”

Decisions about restorative dental treatment among dentists attending a postgraduate continuing professional development course

“…Over half elected for a design using crowns as the retainers in preference to the more minimally invasive choice of a resin-retained bridge. This might have been because of an awareness of the literature indicating that longer span resin-retained bridges carry a higher failure rate 25 or perhaps participants' personal experience of their performance. However, those who chose to use full coverage crowns as the retainers ignored the significant gingival recession on the facial aspects of the had self-selected to attend this postgraduate course presumably either because they were interested in the subject or perceived a learning need.…”