Comparison of Materials in Implant-Supported Partial Fixed Dental Prostheses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives: This randomized controlled trial compared the clinical performances after 1 year of implant-supported, partial fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated from monolithic high-translucency zirconia, veneered high-translucency zirconia, and titanium-ceramic. Material and Methods: Forty-nine adult participants who required posterior implant-supported FDPs were randomly assigned to three groups: monolithic zirconia (MZ, n = 23 FDPs), veneered zirconia (VZ, n = 20 FDPs), and veneered titanium (TC; n = 20 FDPs). Clinical and radiographical evaluations were performed at the 1-year follow-up, assessing prosthetic and implant survival, biological and technical complications, and marginal bone levels. Results: A total of 59 FDPs were examined at follow-up (MZ, n = 21; VZ, n = 20; TC, n = 18). The overall prosthetic survival rate was 96.8%. One FDP in the VZ group failed due to a framework fracture, and one FDP in the TC group was replaced due to extensive chipping. Survival rates were 100% for MZ, 95% for VZ, and 95% for TC. Technical complications occurred in 6.8% of the FDPs, with chipping being the most frequent complication in the TC (11.1%) and VZ (5.0%) groups. Screw loosening occurred in one MZ FDP (4.8%). No chipping was observed in the MZ group. The overall implant survival rate was 99.2%. Biological complications were minimal, with peri-implant mucositis observed in 8.3% of the FDPs. There were no statistically significant differences in marginal bone level changes between the groups. Conclusions: Short-span, implant-supported, partial FDPs composed of monolithic zirconia, veneered zirconia, and titanium-ceramic demonstrate high clinical survival rates at the 1-year follow-up in posterior regions. Longer-term studies are needed to confirm the long-term durability and clinical performance levels of these FDPs. Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05296291.