STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Evidence is sparse regarding the long-term outcomes of restorative treatment of patients with extensive tooth wear.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this long-term prospective randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the performance and success rate of pressed lithium disilicate (LD) and translucent zirconia (TZ) crowns in participants with extensive tooth wear.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 62 participants with extensive tooth wear (17 women, 45 men; mean age 44.8 years; range 25-63 years) received a total of 713 crowns, LD=362 and TZ=351. Both types of crowns had chamfer preparations and were adhesively luted with dual-polymerizing composite resin cement (PANAVIA F 2.0; Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc). The restorations were clinically reevaluated on average 14, 31, 39, 54, and 65 months after insertion of the crowns according to the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria.

RESULTS: After an observation period of up to 6 years, the survival rate for both types of crowns was 99.7%, with 1 lost LD crown after 1 year as a result of loss of retention and 1 lost TZ crown after 3 years because of tooth fracture at the cemento-enamel junction. The success rates were similar for both types of crowns: 98.6% for LD and 99.1% for TZ. Reasons for failures were that 3 participants in each group developed apical lesions, minimal ceramic fractures, or their crowns were rebonded after loss of adhesion. Assessment of color at baseline was significantly different with a better match for LD (84.8% Alfa, 15.2% Bravo) than for TZ crowns (36.5% Alfa, 63.5% Bravo), including TZ crowns with veneered porcelain (P<.001). Secondary caries and cracks did not occur. A post hoc analysis of clinical performance did not indicate any significant differences between extensive tooth wear with primarily mechanical or chemical factors.

CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found between the 2 types of ceramic materials concerning the long-term success and clinical performance, except that TZ crowns were rated by a blinded clinician as less esthetic than LD crowns. The use of high-strength ceramic materials, as well as reliable adhesive bonding, are probably the key factors in the long-term success of ceramic crowns in participants with extensive tooth wear independent of the specific etiology.