The Postoperative Sensitivity of Fixed Partial Dentures Cemented With Self-Adhesive Resin Cements

Background The authors investigated the postcementation sensitivity associated with self-adhesive resin cements used with fixed partial dentures (FPDs). Methods The authors recruited 20 patients who needed posterior porcelain-fused-to-metal FPDs and divided them randomly into three groups. They prepared 50 abutments, then cemented FPDs with one of two self-adhesive resin cements (Breeze Self-Adhesive Resin Cement, Pentron Clinical Technologies, Wallingford, Conn., and RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Universal Resin Cement, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) or an etch-and-rinse resin cement (RelyX ARC Adhesive Resin Cement, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn.). The authors measured participants' tooth sensitivity to cold water, air blast and biting at 24 hours and at two, six and 12 weeks after FPD cementation by using a continuous visual analog scale (VAS). Data were analyzed statistically by means of the Mann-Whitney test. Results For cold tests, the highest VAS scores occurred 24 hours after cementation. The mean VAS scores associated with RelyX ARC were significantly higher than those associated with Breeze and RelyX Unicem ( P P > .05). With all cements, sensitivity to cold decreased significantly after two to six weeks; however, with RelyX ARC, VAS scores stayed above the 30 percent level even after 12 weeks. The biting sensitivity associated with RelyX ARC was significantly higher than that associated with Breeze and RelyX Unicem ( P Conclusions and Clinical Implications Breeze and RelyX Unicem were associated with significantly lower postoperative tooth sensitivity values than was RelyX ARC. With Breeze and RelyX Unicem, postoperative tooth sensitivity disappeared after two to six weeks; however, with RelyX ARC it remained even after 12 weeks. Clinicians may use self-adhesive resin cements, and benefit from their bonding potential, without fear of patients' developing tooth sensitivity.