Resin-bonded fixed dental prosthesis with a modified treatment surface in a zirconia framework: a case report

Although resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) were developed almost 40 years ago, their implementation in clinical practice did not achieve success due to biomechanical failures of the restorative materials. Nowadays, the evolution of ceramic materials and bonding procedures has allowed for the revival of the dental prosthesis. Zirconia is the dental ceramic with the highest flexural strength under compression. However, there are still some concerns regarding the bonding strength of zirconia to enamel that require further research. In this article, through the presentation of three clinical cases, the authors show how modifying the surface of zirconia frameworks by applying a feldspathic veneering on the retainer's buccal surface allows for a bonding procedure to dental structures. The goal of this treatment method is to simultaneously improve structural strength, esthetic integration, and bonding optimization to enamel. In a 3-year prospective evaluation, this framework modification shows promising results, with a survival rate of 100% and no biological or mechanical complications.