Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of three-unit fixed partial dentures (FPD's) made with pre-impregnated unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite (FRC). Methods: 39 light/heat polymerized, Sculpture™ /FibreKor™ FPD's were made with a single pontic and placed in 25 patients over 37 months. 22 extracoronal, full coverage retainer FPD's and 17 intracoronal, partial coverage retainer FPD's were evaluated. Prostheses were made with low volume (L-FRC) and high volume (H-FRC) substructures. Surface integrity (smoothness, chipping), anatomic contour, marginal integrity, structural integrity and various periodontal health indices were evaluated. SEM's were made for representative sample prostheses. Results: Clinical survival was primarily associated with FRC substructure volume. Excluding subjects with severe parafunctional habits, 95% of all prostheses with the H-FRC substructures have survived for up to four years (3.7⁺ 0.1 years). This was significantly greater than the L-FRC prostheses survival rate of 62%. Retainer configuration did not have a significant influence on clinical survival time for the H-FRC prostheses. All surviving FPD's exhibited no or little change from baseline values for all clinical criteria. The surface integrity of all these prostheses was maintained and there was no chipping of the veneer except for two repairable surface defects that were not related to material failure. Conclusions: This study showed that a fiber-reinforced polymer prostheses (Sculpture™ /FibreKor™) can be used for successful short span fixed tooth replacement for up to four years when made with optimized substructure volume. This work was supported by NIH-NIDCR Research Grant DE-09126, Connecticut Innovations, Inc. and Jeneric/Pentron, Inc.

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