Long-Term Outcomes of Ceramic Veneers Restorations: A Comprehensive Analysis of Clinical and Patient-Reported Metrics.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of ceramic veneers after 9-10 years, assess patient-reported outcomes, and examine their associations.

Materials and methods: Thirty patients with ceramic veneers aged 9-10 years were recalled for a clinical examination. Each participant completed a questionnaire on satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life, specifically using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale. The chi-square or Fisher exact test was used to assess the associations between tooth position and professional evaluations of veneer success and individual items. Consistency between professional evaluations of the veneers and patient-reported outcomes was evaluated using Weight Kappa.

Results: A total of 30 patients with 233 veneers participated in the study. Clinical evaluations deemed 9.87% (n = 23) of veneers as successful, 79.40% (n = 185) as surviving with complications, and 10.73% (n = 25) as a failure. The most common complications were marginal adaptation, gingival inflammation, and marginal discoloration. The participants were most frequently dissatisfied with the function of the veneers, food impaction, and cleaning difficulties. The OIDP assessment indicated that problems on daily activities such as cleaning, eating, and sleeping were predominantly affected. There were significant consistencies between certain clinical performance attributes and patient-reported outcomes.

Conclusions: The survival rate of ceramic veneers was 89.3% after 9-10 years of follow-up. Among these, 79.4% had survived with complications such as material defects, secondary caries, and gingival problems. Given the discrepancies between patient-reported outcomes and clinical evaluations, further investigations into patient perception are needed alongside traditional clinical assessments.

Clinical significance: Educating patients about the potential complications associated with veneer restoration, especially specific to tooth location, is essential. Additionally, advising patients on proper oral hygiene practices is recommended to minimize the risk of gingival inflammation to enhance the longevity of the restoration.