An investigation into aspects of resin retained bridge design on aesthetics and oral health related outcomes

Objective:
To assess whether removing the incisal metal edge of an anterior resin-retained bridge (RRB) improves aesthetics without compromising clinical performance.

Design:
A two-phase study was conducted. Phase 1 involved a randomised, controlled trial of 40 dental patients requiring anterior tooth replacement, who received either the original or an adjusted RRB design. Participants completed an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaire before and after treatment. Phase 2 assessed aesthetic preferences among three groups—hypodontia patients, the public, and dental care professionals—who rated photographs of both RRB designs using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results:
In Phase 1, both groups showed p<0.001 suggesting improvements in OHRQoL post-treatment with no difference between RRB designs. No bridges failures occurred over a 50-month follow-up. In Phase 2, pooled analysis revealed a preference (p<0.001) for the adjusted design. No statistical differences were observed between participant groups.

Conclusions:
Removing the incisal metal improves aesthetic outcomes of anterior RRBs without affecting short-term survival. Both designs improved OHRQoL. The aesthetic questionnaire demonstrated potential as a valid tool for comparing fixed prosthetic outcomes.