Can zirconia crowns stand up to chewing? a 24-Month test aims to find out
NCT ID NCT07797972
First seen Sep 01, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are testing how well zirconia ceramic crowns hold up on back teeth over two years. The study enrolls 40 adults who need a crown on a premolar or molar. Participants receive a crown made from zirconia, a strong tooth-colored material, and the team tracks survival, fit, color match, and any complications.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Zirconia ceramic crowns (IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime Esthetic) cemented with a resin-modified glass ionomer cement
- What this could lead to
- If these crowns perform well, dentists may have a durable, tooth-colored option for restoring back teeth that lasts at least two years.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 40 participants. Crowns can chip, loosen, or cause discomfort, and results may not apply to everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2022
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Recruitment will be conducted by advertisements in local newspapers and at academic institutions. Patients will also be recruited from within Penn Dental Medicine's undergraduate and postgraduate student clinics.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years of age (selected regardless of sex, race or other ethnic characterization) * Vital or endodontically treated tooth * Antagonist present * Classify as ASA I or ASA II according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) * In need of an indirect full-coverage restoration (crown) on at least one posterior tooth (premolar or molar) * Fulfilling all medical and dental requirements for preparation of a full-coverage crown * Angle Class I occlusal relationship with a minimum of 20 remaining teeth * Adequate intra-arch space allowing for satisfactory restoration of the abutment teeth. If opposing teeth have supra-erupted, an ideal occlusal plane will be restored by enameloplasty. In cases of severe supra-eruption, patients will need to consent to alternative means of restoring an ideal plane of occlusion. This may involve surgical crown lengthening and/or restoration of the tooth. Otherwise, they will be excluded from the study. * Dentition free of active periodontal disease (probing depth and attachment levels at within normal limits, no furcation involvement, no mobility). Individuals meeting other criteria but presenting with active periodontal disease will be referred to the Post-Graduate Periodontal Clinic for treatment and subsequently re-screened. * Willingness and ability to comply with the pre- and post-operative diagnostic and clinical evaluations required for the study. * Willingness and ability (including financial) to comply with the final restorative treatment plan that will be accomplished upon completion of participation in the study. * Willingness and ability to understand and comply with Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee requirements as outlined in consent forms, which have to be signed by the patients. * Subjects are responsible for payment of regular dental procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe wear facets and/or parafunctional activities such as clenching or nocturnal bruxism * Pulpitis, no hypersensitivity on biting and temperature (visual analog scale \<3) * Insufficient endodontic treatment * Periapical pathology * Pregnancy during the treatment phase * Significant medical conditions or drug use that could interfere with evaluation (i.e., narcotics, NSAIDs) * Medical conditions that preclude the subject from carrying out oral hygiene regimens (i.e., severe arthritis affecting the hands) * Social history that indicates a risk of poor compliance (i.e., history of alcohol or drug abuse) with proper maintenance of restoration
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Penn Dental Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States