Anterosuperior rehabilitation with metal-free fixed prosthesis based on zirconia

Abstract

The loss of upper front dental elements causes functional and psychosocial problems to the affected individuals. In this case report, the treatment planning considered hard and soft tissue loss for a complex fixed partial denture (FPD) rehabilitation. The six-element, all-ceramic FPD was manufactured using a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing system with zirconia framework, veneered with leucite-reinforced ceramic. Ceramic artificial gum was also produced to guarantee tooth-facial proportions as well as lip support, promoting both esthetics and phonetics. The material's mechanical properties allowed for the coupling of the esthetic and mechanical requirements, proving an alternative to the well-established metal-ceramic technology, optimizing biomimetic. One of the endodontic-treated abutment teeth required a radicular retainer with cast metal post, but because of the opacity of zirconia, the esthetics of the prosthesis was not compromised. The low silica content of high resistance ceramics such as zirconia hampers the adhesive cementation, with numerous studies advocating for different cementation protocols, with no clear scientific consensus so far. In the present case, the internal surface of the FPD was initially blasted with aluminum oxide, followed by the application of a universal adhesive system containing 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate. Finally, cementation to the dental structure was conducted with dual-cure self-adhesive resin cement.