Clinical Attitude for Failed Fixed Restorations: An Overview.
Fixed prosthodontic failures are varied and complex.
Complications associated with conventional fixed prostheses are dental caries,
need for endodontic treatment, periodontal disease.
Poor esthetic is one of the most frequent reasons for replacing failed restorations.
Knowledge regarding the clinical complications enhances clinicians to complete
a thorough clinical examination and diagnosis, and to develop an esthetic-driven
treatment plan including the selection of bleaching agent, the reconstruction type,
and the ceramic material.
This article illustrates several clinical complications of full coverage restorations,
and discusses different therapeutic modalities which have to be
combined and synchronized to enhance the esthetic
outcome of the final fixed prostheses.
A failure has been defined as the state or condition of not meeting
a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success.
Fixed prosthodontic failures can be complex in terms of both diagnosis and treatment.
Knowledge regarding the clinical complications that can occur in fixed
prosthodontics enhances the clinician’s ability to complete a thorough diagnosis,
develop the most appropriate treatment plan, communicate realistic
expectations to patients, and plan the time intervals needed for post treatment care.
When a crown or Fixed Partial Dentures fails, the primary question is whether
the problem can be easily resolved, or requires extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Fixed prosthodontic failures are varied and include secondary caries, endodontic complications, ditching of the cement margin, unacceptable esthetics, cracking, and chipping fracture.
Walton, et al. studied in 1986 the causes of loss of serviceability of crowns and FPD,
and concluded that secondary caries were the most frequent cause of failure accounting 24.3%
of the units requiring replacement. The decay process may be responsible for the structural
weakening of teeth.
Dent Open J. 2015; 2(4): 100-104. doi: 10.17140/DOJ-2-119
