A retrospective study of Mirage ceramic inlays over up to 9 years.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective longitudinal study was to document the outcomes of resin-cemented ceramic inlays in patients treated in a private dental practice over up to 9 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients received in all 109 Mirage ceramic inlays, 59 in molars and 50 in premolars. Follow-up data were collected on 51 patients and 107 inlays. The mean time in situ was 6.3 years. Technical failures or dislodgments of the inlays were recorded, as well as clinical and radiographic signs of periodontal and periapical diseases or caries lesions. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 17 inlays had to be removed, 14 because of major fractures and 3 in teeth requiring endodontic treatment. The fractures were confined to 8 of the 51 patients available for follow-up and were significantly more common in molars than in premolars. Replacement of inlays was significantly more frequent in men than in women. During the study period, 20 further minor clinical interventions (eg, recementation of intact inlays, repair of minor fractures or caries defects) had been undertaken on the surviving inlays. Thus, major and minor complications together necessitated a total of 37 clinical interventions. The survival rate, based on the remaining 90 inlays still in situ, was 84%. CONCLUSION: In this material, the outcome of ceramic inlay therapy was influenced by both major and minor complications (35%). Eight of the 51 patients accounted for all the major fractures, implying that patient selection is an important determinant of the clinical outcome.