Clinical fit of four‐unit zirconia posterior fixed dental prostheses

The objective of this clinical study was to assess the internal and marginal accuracy of computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)‐generated four‐unit all‐ceramic posterior fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). The data were compared with the results of three‐unit metal‐ceramic and all‐ceramic FDPs that were obtained in a previous study. Twenty‐four patients were provided with all‐ceramic posterior four‐unit FDPs made from semisintered blank zirconia material. Prior to definitive insertion the accuracy was evaluated using a replica technique with a light body silicone that was stabilized with a heavy body material. The replica samples were examined using microscopy. The median marginal gap of the 24 four‐unit FDPs was 77 μm. The median gap widths were 87 μm at the midaxial wall, 167 μm at the axio‐occlusal transition of the abutments, and 170 μm at centro‐occlusal location. Although the marginal accuracy of the four‐unit FDPs differed significantly from that of the three‐unit metal‐ceramic FDPs (median 54 μm), the values obtained were clinically satisfactory and showed that semisintered zirconia blanks could be used for the fabrication of four‐unit FDPs.