PATIENT-REPORTED ESTHETIC OUTCOMES AFTER ANTERIOR CERAMIC RESTORATIONS: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FACTORS

Abstract

Patient-reported outcomes are increasingly relevant when evaluating long-term success of anterior ceramic restorations, as clinical survival alone may not reflect the patient’s perception of treatment. This retrospective observational study evaluated esthetic satisfaction and associated demographic and clinical factors in 217 patients with 667 anterior ceramic restorations followed for 5–9 years. Data were extracted from the clinical database of Dental Concept by Dr. Mihali and included lithium disilicate, feldspathic ceramic, and zirconia restorations. Satisfaction was assessed using a study-specific questionnaire with a binary outcome and a five-point rating scale. Overall, 198 patients (91.2%) were satisfied. Satisfaction did not differ significantly according to ceramic material, age, or sex. Dissatisfied patients had a higher number of restorations per patient (p = 0.027). Clinical complications were documented in 24 patients (11.1%) and were strongly associated with dissatisfaction (OR = 19.57, 95% CI 6.71–57.07; p < 0.001), with shade discrepancy representing the most frequent complaint. Clinical complications, particularly shade discrepancy, were strongly associated with dissatisfaction, whereas no significant differences in satisfaction were observed according to ceramic material, age, or sex.