Bruxism and all-ceramic restorations

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Brigitte Ohlmann, since 9/2016
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271455547

Metallic crowns have been used for the reconstruction of destroyed teeth for many decades. Although all-ceramic materials are available for at least 30 years, also, these materials could not fulfill the clinical requirements due to their brittleness. However, since approximately 5 years ceramic materials are available, allowing the monolithic fabrication of all ceramic restorations. The advantages of this approach are the cost-effective, computer-supported fabrication of the one hand, and the abandonment of metal on the other.However, the risk of failure in all ceramic restorations seems to remain higher due to the material properties (brittleness) of these materials.Bruxism is a widespread phenomenon in men: up to 45% suffer from this habit. Beside other problems, these subjects load their teeth and their dental restorations much higher, compared to non-bruxers. There is a severe lack of clinical data, supporting the assumption that monolithic restorations could be placed in these subjects without problems. This results in uncertainty with respect to the aforementioned all-ceramic materials, because it is almost impossible to identify bruxers in the setting of a dental practice. If it remains unknown, which ceramic could be used in bruxers, the dental practitioner faces the problem of an increased risk of failure in these patients. The aim of the present study is to use high-strength ceramics in both bruxers and non-bruxers in order to assess differences in complication rates. 100 subjects (50 bruxers and 50 non-bruxers) will be recruited at the department of prosthodontics of the University of Heidelberg. The distinction between bruxers and non-bruxers will be based on the one hand on the recommendations of Lobbezoo et al. and on electromyographic examination on the other. The material will be randomly selected. The technical complication rate will be the main outcome of the study. Furthermore, the influence of occlusion on the technical failure rates will be assessed. Finally, esthetics and wear should be assessed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Peter Rammelsberg
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Marc Schmitter, until 8/2016