Six Month Clinical Evaluation of a Preformed Adult Composite Crown

Objectives: Study aim was to clinically evaluate the performance of a new, preformed, customizable, adult composite crown (ACC) on full coverage prepared teeth in adult patients. Method: Following IRB approval, two operators placed ACC's in molar and premolar teeth to be retained for 1 year. Each ACC was custom fit to the prepared tooth and luted using RelyX™ Unicem resin cement. Crowns were scored using modified USPHS criteria and the clinicians also scored ease of trimming and placement of the crowns and post-operative sensitivity. Differences in clinical performance of ACC over time were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05). Results: Fifty ACC crowns were placed in 41 subjects, 17 in premolars and 32 in molar teeth. Ease of placement and quality of the crowns were scored as acceptable in 97% of cases and unacceptable in 3%. Scores for normal gingiva surrounding the crown were 60% at baseline and 80% at 6 months which was not statistically significant different (p>0.05). There was no difference between baseline and 6 month scores for margin quality, proximal contact, surface roughness and occlusal wear. At baseline 85% teeth scored no post-operative sensitivity, which improved to 100% at 6 months. There was a statistically significant difference in both staining and color match scores between baseline and 6 months (p<0.05). Two crowns which dislodged at 6 months were recemented; one molar tooth subjected to heavy occlusal forces had the crown replaced twice.

Conclusion: The preformed adult composite crowns evaluated in this study showed acceptable clinical performance at 6 months.

This research was supported by 3M ESPE.