PMID- 16602362 OWN - Quintessenz Verlags-GmbH CI - Copyright Quintessenz Verlags-GmbH OCI - Copyright Quintessenz Verlags-GmbH TA - Int J Prosthodont JT - The International Journal of Prosthodontics IS - 1942-4426 (Electronic) IS - 0893-2174 (Print) IP - 2 VI - 19 PST - ppublish DP - 2006 PG - 143-153 LA - en TI - A 20-Year Retrospective Survival Study of Fixed Partial Dentures FAU - De Backer, Hein AU - De Backer H FAU - Van Maele, Georges AU - Van Maele G FAU - DeMoor, Nathalie AU - DeMoor N FAU - Van den Berghe, Linda AU - Van den Berghe L FAU - De Boever, Jan AU - De Boever J CN - AB - Purpose: This study of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) evaluated the long-term efficacy and determined frequencies and causes of failures. Materials and Methods: A total of 322 FPDs in 193 patients, fabricated at an undergraduate university clinic, were evaluated over a 20-year period. All patients were invited to participate in a supportive maintenance program. Failures of the FPDs were divided into irreversible complications (loss of FPD/abutment) and reversible complications (FPD intact after conservative treatment) and into biologic and technical/patient-related failures. Results: The Kaplan-Meier survival rate after 20 years was 66.2%. Statistically significant differences in survival rates were found between FPDs without post-and-core abutment teeth as compared to FPDs with at least one post-and-core abutment tooth (P = .002) and for vital abutments versus post-and-core abutments (P = .001), but significant differences were not found between restorations in the maxilla and mandible (P = .27). Caries and loss of retention were the main reasons for failure and accounted for 61% of the failures. Conclusion: The survival of FPDs by undergraduate students at a university clinic during a 20-year period was comparable to the results published by university departments or general practitioners. Occurrence of a previously reversible complication is a predictive factor for an irreversible complication later on. A reversible complication within the first 2 years will probably lead to an early irreversible complication. AID - 848800