Clinical study on the comparison of gold and zirconia wear in an implant-supported fixed prosthesis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the wear of a prosthesis for 6 months after restoration with implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis made of either zirconia or gold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on patients requiring implant-supported fixed dental prostheses on first or second molar from January, 2015 to January, 2016. A total of 47 prostheses and antagonists were examined. Occlusal surface was recorded by impression of each prosthesis and antagonist 1 week and 6 months after prosthesis delivery. The digital files were created by impression scan. Occlusal shapes of 1 week and 6 months were compared and wear of prostheses and antagonists was analyzed. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyzed the result data underwent normality test using SPSS (Version 23.0, IBM Corporation) RESULTS: Mann-Whitney test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the median amount of mean vertical wear for 6 months in zirconia (50.84 μm) and gold (42.84 μm) prostheses (P > 0.05). When the opposing teeth were natural, the median amount of mean vertical wear of zirconia and gold prostheses was 47.72 μm and 41.97 μm, respectively, and the median amount of mean vertical wear of enamel was 47.26 μm and 44.59 μm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the short study period and the small number of experimental groups, zirconia and gold showed no significant difference in wear during the first 6 months. Opposing natural enamel also showed no significant difference in the wear.