Clinical evaluation of heat-pressed glass-ceramic inlays in vivo: 2-year results.

In the present study, the 2-year clinical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results for heat-pressed ceramic inlays are reported. In a selected patient population, 51 cavities were restored with all-ceramic inlays. All margins were located within the enamel. The inlays were luted to the cavities with a high-viscosity, dual-cure luting composite. After 2 days, 1 year, and 2 years, the restorations were evaluated clinically, using the modified USPHS criteria. Quantitative margin analysis was performed in the SEM on the replicas fabricated at the recall times. The data were tested for significant differences, using the chi-square test for the clinical evaluation and the Mann-Whitney U-test for the margin analysis. After 2 years, the clinical evaluation of the margin adaptation revealed Bravo ratings for 14 restorations (27.5%); 37 restorations (72.5%) were rated Alfa. Compared to the baseline data, this difference was statistically significant (p < or = 0.5). SEM analysis revealed that the ceramic-composite interface exhibited significantly (p < or = 0.01) more gap formation than the enamel-composite interface at all times of evaluation. Wear of the luting composite could be determined along 50% of the restoration interface during the first year, 53% during the second year. The inlay restorations controlled in this study perform well after a period of 2 years.