Tanoue et al.

Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 40-43.

Use of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures as permanentretainers: A clinical report
Naomi Tanoue, DDS, PhD,a Hiroaki Yanagida, DDS, PhD,b and Hideo Matsumura,DDS, PhDcab

Departments of Specialized Dentistry and General Dentistry, Nagasaki University Hospital ofc
Medicine and Dentistry, Nagasaki, and Department of Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics, Nihon
University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan
This report describes the clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (FPDs) bonded
symmetrically to the maxillary anterior dentition. The FPDs were fabricated with the aim of replacing
missing incisors as well as permanent retention after orthodontic treatment. Two FPDs were cast from asilver-palladium alloy (Castwell), and the pontics were veneered with an indirect composite material (Axis).
The retainers were primed with a metal conditioner (V-Primer), and seated with a tri-n-butylborane
initiated adhesive resin (Super-Bond). After an observation period of four years, the FPDs werefunctioning satisfactorily without periodontal rebound. The materials and techniques reported here areapplicable to retention after the orthodontic treatment of adolescent patients. (Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4:40-43.)
Key Words: adhesive, fixed partial denture, noble metal, retainer, thiol.

Introduction
The replacement of missing teeth in anterior areas is important for recovering tooth anatomic form as
well as oral functions. After dentition alignment, it is necessary for patients to wear retainers for stabilizing
their teeth and periodontal tissues. Various types of retainers are used according to the location and numberof teeth to be retained. Resin-bonded castings are being used for both retainers after orthodontic treatment
and resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (FPDs).
Noble metal alloys are more desirable than base metal alloys because of their adaptability to abutments
and their laboratory handling properties.

In addition, single liquid primers have been developed forbonding noble metal alloys to enamel surfaces. The vinyl-thiol primer (V-Primer, Sun Medical Co., Ltd.,Moriyama, Japan) is a pioneering material capable of bonding noble metals to other substrates. Bothlaboratory and clinical evaluations, except for two papers,1,2 have demonstrated the effectiveness of theV-Primer material when combined with a tri-n-butylborane (TBB) initiated adhesive resin (Super-Bond
C&B, Sun-Medical).3-16 Although a number of prosthodontic applications of the V-Primer and Super-Bondmaterials have been reported, only limited information is available about the combined prosthodontic andorthodontic application of this bonding system.
This clinical report describes the four-year clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial denturesseated symmetrically to the maxillary incisors for the purpose of recovering esthetics and oral functions
after orthodontic treatment.

Clinical Report
The patient was a 17-year-old female with esthetic disturbance as a result of congenitally missing40

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Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 40-43.

maxillary lateral incisors. On first examination, orthodontic treatment had been completed and the patient
wore a Hawley retainer (Figs. 1 and 2). Several treatment options were therefore proposed: 1) single-tooth
implants; 2) resin-bonded FPDs with minimal tooth reduction; 3) direct-bonding of artificial pontics; or 4) aremovable partial denture similar to the removable retainer. The patient chose the second of the proposedprocedure. The treatment was then explained in detail and consent was obtained from the patient.

1Fig. 1. A Hawley retainer used for retention after orthodontic treatment.
Fig. 2. Pre-operative facial view.

23Fig. 3. Pre-operative anterior maxillo-mandibular contact at the intercuspal position.
Fig. 4. Lingual view of the resin-bonded FPDs seated with the Super-Bond adhesive.

45Fig. 5. Facial view of the composite resin veneered FPDs.
Fig. 6. The FPDs four years after seating.

6Occlusion was examined intraorally with pieces of articulating paper and extraorally using a study cast41

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Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 40-43.

(Fig. 3). After examination of the maxillo-mandubular relation, the areas and thickness of tooth reduction
were determined. Since limited proximal areas were covered with the retainers, the cast metal frameworks
were not detectable from a frontal direction. However, the bonding area of the retainers was extended asmuch as possible within the lingual surfaces. Additional retentive grooves or holes were not sunk because
the retentive characteristics of the retainers appeared satisfactory.
A combined impression of the entire maxilla was made with addition silicone elastomeric materials(Exafine Regular and Injection, GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan) using a custom tray.

The die stone waspouredinto the impression, and a working cast was prepared. The stone cast was then mounted in asemi-adjustable articulator with an opposing cast. The pattern of the retainer and pontic was fabricatedusing an inlay wax material (Blue Inlay Wax, GC Corp.), invested with a cristobalite material (CristobaliteMicro, GC Corp.). Two metal frameworks, each consisting of two retainers and a pontic, were then castfrom a silver-palladium-copper-gold alloy (Castwell M.C. 12, GC Corp.). The pontic was a ridge-lap type,the buccal surface of which was veneered with an indirect composite material (Axis, GC Corp.).
The completed FPDs were tried-in, and the inner surfaces of the retainers were air-abraded with 70-µm
grain aluminum oxide (Hi-Aluminas, Shofu Inc., Kyoto, Japan) using a particle abrader (Micro BlasterMB102, Comco Inc., Burbank, CA, USA), and conditioned with a single liquid primer designed for noblemetals (V-Primer). The abutment lingual enamel surfaces were etched with 65% phosphoric acid (RedActivator, Sun Medical), washed with water, and air-dried. The FPDs were then separately seated with a
tri-n-butylborane (TBB) initiated adhesive resin (Super-Bond Opaque, Sun Medical) using a brush-diptechnique.
The patient entered a maintenance program and was examined once a year (Figs. 4-6).

After anobservation period of four years, the resin-bonded FPDs were still functioning satisfactorily.

Discussion
After orthodontic treatment, it is necessary for patients to use retainers. The influence of destabilizing
factors such as periodontal rebound, subsequent growth, and resting soft-tissue pressures can be minimized
with either removable or bonded retainers. Due to the continuous rebounding force applied to the abutmentroots, the probability of retainer detachment is greater than that of FPD detachment. Therefore a noble
metal adhesive system combined with enamel etching using phosphoric acid was conducted to achieve
durable bonding between the FPDs and abutments.

This is a simple technique that minimize toothreduction. The patient’s esthetic appearance was facilitated by using cast retainers with limited proximal
coverage and an opaque luting agent. This technique is especially useful for adolescent patients because
their tooth attritions are generally not apparent, and the clinical crown/root ratio is unpredictable at this age.
Although regular check-ups are essential, the techniques and materials described in this report are a usefulorthodontic-prosthetic approach for adolescent patients.

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Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 40-43.

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Reprint request to:
Dr. Naomi TanoueDepartment of Specialized Dentistry, Nagasaki University Hospital of Medicine and Dentistry
1-7-1, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan
Fax: +81-95-849-7689 E-mail: t-naomi@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Received January 7, 2004. Revised March 5, 2004. Accepted March 10, 2004.
Copyright ©2004 by the Editorial Council of the International Chinese Journal of Dentistry.

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