Clinical Performance of Lithium Disilicate Veneer-Fixed Dental Prostheses for Incisor Tooth Replacement (LiDi-VFDP)

Lithium Disilicate Veneer-Fixed Dental Prostheses for Anterior Tooth Replacement: Clinical Case Series

This study evaluated a conservative treatment approach for replacing a missing upper front tooth (maxillary incisor). The treatment involved an all-ceramic, resin-bonded fixed dental prosthesis designed as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional bridges.

The prostheses were fabricated from lithium disilicate glass-ceramic and were designed either with a single retainer (bonded to one adjacent tooth) or with two retainers (bonded to two adjacent teeth). All restorations were bonded using light-curing resin cement.

The study assessed the clinical performance of these prostheses over a follow-up period of at least 12 months. Clinical evaluation included assessment of prosthesis integrity and function during the observation period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Missing Maxillary Anterior Teeth
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Lithium disilicate double retainer veneer bridge; Device: Lithium disilicate single retainer veneer bridge

Detailed Description

This retrospective case series evaluated the short-term clinical performance of veneer fixed dental prostheses used to replace a missing maxillary incisor. The prostheses were fabricated from lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max Press).

The retainers consisted of labial ceramic veneers bonded to the enamel surfaces of adjacent teeth. Two prosthetic designs were included: a single-retainer (cantilever) design and a two-retainer design. All veneer retainers were cemented using a light-curing resin cement according to standard adhesive clinical procedures.

Existing patient records were reviewed to assess prosthesis survival and clinical success during follow-up visits. Survival was defined as the prosthesis remaining in situ during the observation period. Clinical success was evaluated based on prosthesis integrity, maintenance of function, and absence of technical complications such as fracture or loss of retention. Follow-up duration was at least 12 months after cementation.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 23

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Group of people > 18 years old with no parafunctional habit

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a missing maxillary incisor replaced with a veneer fixed dental prosthesis
• Intact adjacent teeth suitable to serve as abutments
• Adequate periodontal health and bone support of adjacent teeth
• Age 18 years or older
• Minimum of 12 months clinical follow-up available

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients younger than 18 years
• Adjacent teeth with extensive restorations, structural compromise, or inadequate enamel for bonding
• Active periodontal disease affecting abutment teeth
• Presence of parafunctional habits (e.g., bruxism or clenching)
• Insufficient follow-up (< 12 months)
• Incomplete clinical records

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patient with missing maxillary incisor; Adult patients that have missing an incisor which needs replacement	Device: Lithium disilicate double retainer veneer bridge; Replacing missing maxillary incisor with single retainer lithium disilicate veneer bridge; Device: Lithium disilicate single retainer veneer bridge; Replacing missing maxillary incisor with double retainer lithium disilicate veneer bridge

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Success rate	The percentage of successful emax veneer briges	12 months
Success rate	The percentage of clinically successful bridge after the observation time	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Damascus University
• Investigators: Study Director: Nabil Alhouri, PhD, Damascus University, Faculty of Dentistry

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Al-Bermani ASA, Quigley NP, Ha WN. Do zirconia single-retainer resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses present a viable treatment option for the replacement of missing anterior teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Prosthet Dent. 2023 Oct;130(4):533-542. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.10.015. Epub 2021 Dec 7.
• Chen J, Cai H, Ren X, Suo L, Pei X, Wan Q. A Systematic Review of the Survival and Complication Rates of All-Ceramic Resin-Bonded Fixed Dental Prostheses. J Prosthodont. 2018 Jul;27(6):535-543. doi: 10.1111/jopr.12678. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 3, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Resin-bonded fixed partial dentures; Resin-bonded bridge; veneer bridge; Lithium disilicate glass ceramic; All-ceramic resin-bonded bridge; All-ceramic veneer bridge
• Other Study ID Numbers: UDDS-Prosth-2025-10

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Study was done from 2011 to 2015

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No