Minimally Invasive Anterior and Posterior Single Tooth Replacement with Bonded Zirconia Restorations

Matthias Kern, Prof. Dr. Med Dent Habil

Resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs, so-called Maryland bridges) with two metal retainer wings have been introduced 40 years ago for a minimal invasive replacement of missing teeth. However due to various reasons metal-ceramic, RBFDPs are not considered a comparable treatment modality to implants by most dentists. Cantilevered anterior RBFDPs with a single ceramic retainer wing were introduced 25 years ago. They provide better esthetics and are less invasive than two-retainer RBFDPs. In the meantime long-term data with bonded zirconia restorations for this minimal invasive treatment option are available. Similar concepts are now also implemented for the replacement of posterior teeth that show promising medium-term outcomes comparable to single tooth implants. This lecture summarizes when zirconia ceramic RBFDPs present a favorable, minimally invasive and less costly treatment alternative to single tooth implants.