Severity of Failure of Conventional Tooth-Supported Fixed Dental Prostheses at a Tertiary Care Dental Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the severity of failure of conventional tooth supported fixed dental prostheses (FPD) in patients reporting to a tertiary care dental hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Foundation University College of Dentistry, Foundation University, Islamabad, Pakistan, from July 2025 to January 2026 using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. A sample of 150 participants that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria was included. Demographic and prostheses related information including location of prostheses, type of prostheses, material of prostheses, duration of time the prostheses were employed and class of severity of failure were transferred to the proformas. The data was entered and analyzed in SPSS Statistics version 21.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 47.82 ± 15.188 years; 123 participants were females and 27 were males. 14% of the participants displayed class I level of failures, 4% class II, 7% class III, 33% class IV, 15% class V and 27% class VI. Most commonly involved site was the maxillary posterior region; the most commonly failed prostheses were long-span PFM FDPs that exceeded 5 years of employment.

Conclusion: Tooth supported-FPD provide one of the most durable treatment approaches for missing teeth. However, with the duration of their service, the tooth-supported FPD get vulnerable to biological as well as mechanical complications. Appropriate case selection, meticulous treatment planning, and regular follow-up are essential to minimize complications and enhance prosthesis longevity.

Keywords: Crown, Dental abutment, Dental prosthesis failure, Metal-ceramic restorations, Prosthesis removal