The cantilever contact-point resin bonded bridge; adhesion 2.0

AIM: When young patients are congenitally missing anterior teeth, different treatment modalities can be used to complement the dental arch. This article proposes a new treatment modality for the replacement of anterior teeth, the cantilever contact-point resin bonded bridge (CCP-RBB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this proof of principle study, CCP-RBB's delivered by one operator were clinically assessed. Patients who were missing maxillary incisors and had suitable intra-oral conditions for a contact-point cantilever RBB were included. Three cases are presented to describe all adhesive steps. This proof of principle clinical study is presented with up to 60 months follow-up of the cantilever contact resin bonded bridges.

RESULTS: A total of 19 CCP-RBB's were evaluated after a mean period of 29.8 months. None of the restorations exhibited failure, carious lesions or fractures during the follow-up periods, demonstrating an absence of restoration debonding or the need for repair.

CONCLUSION: The new cantilever contact-point resin bonded bridge exhibited an excellent treatment modality without failure or debonding up to 5 years. More and extended duration in vivo studies are needed to evaluate this new treatment modality.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this proof of principle the new cantilever contact-point resin bonded bridge obtained excellent results up to 5 years of clinical follow-up.