Translucent Zirconium Dioxide and Lithium Disilicate: A 3-Year Follow-up of a Prospective, Practice-Based Randomized Controlled Trial on Posterior Monolithic Crowns.

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate and compare the clinical performance of lithium disilicate (LDS)- and zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2))-based ceramic monolithic crowns in the posterior dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Treatment was administered by two experienced general dental practitioners in two public dental health care clinics. Forty-four patients received 60 crowns randomized to be either LDS or ZrO(2) and cemented with resin cement. Evaluations were performed after 3 years using California Dental Association criteria. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 40 months (range: 31 to 50). No crown fractured during the observation time, and no chip-off fractures occurred. The success rate for ZrO(2) was 80%, and the survival rate was 93.3%. For LDS, the success rate was 89.7%, and the survival rate was 100%. Survival after 3 years for all crowns together was 96.6%, and success was 84.7%. There was no significant difference between the two materials. CONCLUSION: Crowns made of monolithic translucent ZrO(2) and LDS show equal and promising clinical results from a short-term perspective. There seems to be a difference between how patients and professionals rate crowns concerning esthetics (color and shape), with patients rating the restorations more favorably.