Long-term clinical performance and failure analysis of indirect glass- based ceramic onlay restorations: an eleven-year retrospective study

JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, vol.6, no.62, pp.1-9, 2026 (SCI-Expanded)

This retrospective clinical study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical performance of glass-based ceramic onlay

restorations in terms of survival rate, types of failure, and patient satisfaction over an eleven-year follow-up period.

Glass-based ceramics are increasingly preferred in restorative dentistry for their mechanical resilience and superior optical

properties, which meet the requirements of modern minimally invasive and esthetic approaches. A total of 115 indirect

glass-based ceramic onlay restorations, placed between 2012 and 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical records

were reviewed to determine restoration survival and failure types. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a numerical

rating scale ranging from 0 to 10. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate potential influencing factors such as

marginal integrity, tooth location, and restorative procedures. The overall survival rate was 87.9%. The most common

causes of failure were ceramic fracture (6.0%) and adhesive debonding (5.2%). Patient satisfaction was generally high,

with mean scores above 8. Tooth position and marginal adaptation were statistically significant factors affecting restoration

longevity. Glass-based ceramic onlay restorations demonstrated high long-term clinical success and patient satisfaction,

supporting their use as conservative and esthetic alternatives to full-coverage crowns. These findings suggest that such

restorations can be reliable long-term treatment options, provided proper material selection, tooth preparation, and bond-

ing protocols are followed.

Keywords Glass-based ceramics · Onlay restoration · Clinical longevity · Ceramic fracture · Adhesive failure · Patient

satisfaction · Esthetic dentistry