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Pjetursson BE, Tan WC et al. Clin Oral Impl Res 2008; 19: 131–141

The clinical requirements for successful resin-bonded bridges (RBBs) are exacting, and recent results are better than earlier. From 214 relevant studies, reviewers identified 17 (9 prospective, 8 retrospective) from 1990 to 2006 which were suitable for inclusion in the analysis.

In 12 studies which reported on 5 yr survival, 1,374 RBBs were placed and 187 were lost or debonded twice or more, giving a 5 yr survival rate of 88%. None of the 17 studies gave information on complication-free survival. In 4 studies, abutment caries occurred in 1.5% over a 5 yr period, and in 4 studies 7 of 253 RBBs were lost through recurrent periodontitis. Debonding occurred in all 17 studies, affecting 436 of 1,693 RBBs. Materials fracture was reported in 6 studies, losing 13 of 451 RBBs. The authors consider that the high frequency of technical complications needs to be studied over 10 or more yrs to estimate outcomes more fully.