A longitudinal study of resin-bonded prostheses.

Resin-bonded fixed partial dentures, without definitive tooth preparation and current resinous cements and perceptive treatment, have had an inordinate number of dislodgments in initial restorative efforts. A longitudinal examination of resin-bonded prostheses was performed after a mean observation time exceeding 6 years. To prevent stress fatigue fractures of the cement bondings, one proximal groove was prepared in dentin for each anterior abutment and the inner surfaces of the frameworks were silicoated. Five of 34 prostheses debonded, and the bond strength between resin and high gold alloys was too low to resist fatigue fractures during this study. The results of this study and other reports suggested a need for increased retention and resistance form of the frameworks to improve longevity of resin-bonded prostheses.