A prospective clinical evaluation of fixed dental prostheses made of metal alloys in patients with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND: In general, the prevalence of caries and other oral and dental issues is increased in patients with disabilities, such as those with cerebral palsy. Providing appropriate dental treatment at a primary dental clinic for patients with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, among other conditions, is challenging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the longevity and investigate the related prognostic factors of fixed prostheses in patients with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The records of 36 cerebral palsy patients were used for collecting and analyzing data. A total of 155 prostheses made from metal alloys were finally included in this study. Annual failure rates were calculated; patient‐ and tooth‐related variables associated with prosthesis failure were assessed by a multivariate Cox‐regression analysis and frailty models to introduce random effects. RESULTS: The 10‐year prosthesis survival rate was 62% and the 20‐year survival rate was 36%. In terms of prosthesis‐related variables, the type of prosthesis had a significant effect, and the hazard ratio of fixed partial dentures was 2.32 times that of single‐unit crowns. In terms of patient‐related variables, the presence of epilepsy had a significant effect on survival, and the hazard ratio for comorbid epilepsy was 3.76 times that for those without comorbid epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that fixed prostheses placed in patients with cerebral palsy might have a particularly low survival rate in cases with comorbid epilepsy. It might also be important to consider the type and/or design of the prosthesis carefully to ensure a better prognosis.