Identifying the risks of and causes behind loss of retention for zirconia restorations
About the project
All-ceramics, especially zirconia, are alternatives to porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) as dental restorations. Ceramic materials offer several advantages e.g. excellent biocompatibility and favourable aesthetics. Clinical studies show, however, that zirconia-based restorations may pose a higher risk for loss of retention. The underlying causes for this type of complication are not fully known, which is worrying given the high number of zirconia restorations performed each year and the treatment cost. For example, deficiencies in handling may be as important as the choice of cement.
Explanations have been suggested, for example, that problems during the complex and operator sensitive pretreatment and cementation procedures, such as surface contamination, abrasive surface treatment, and pretreatment with special primers may affect the outcome. However, these hypotheses have not been adequately evaluated in clinical or laboratory trials. The aim of this doctoral project is to investigate the risks of and causes behind loss of retention in order to improve the clinical longevity of zirconia-based restorations.