A randomized controlled trial of crown therapy in young individuals with amelogenesis imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta (ai) is a rare,genetically determined defect in enamel mineralization. existing treatment recommendations suggest resin-composite restorations until adulthood,although such restorations have a limited longevity. new crown materials allow for minimal preparation techniques. the aim of this study was to compare the quality and longevity of 2 crown types - procera and ips e.max press - in adolescents and young adults with ai. a secondary aim was to document adverse events. we included 27 patients (11 to 22 y of age) with ai in need of crown therapy in a randomized controlled trial using a split-mouth technique. after placing 119 procera crowns and 108 ips e.max press crowns following randomization,we recorded longevity,quality,adverse events,and tooth sensitivity. after 2 y,97% of the crowns in both crown groups had excellent or acceptable quality. we found no significant differences in quality between procera and ips e.max press crowns. tooth sensitivity was significantly reduced after crown therapy (p < 0.001). endodontic complications occurred in 3% of crowns. the results show that it is possible to perform crown therapy with excellent results and without severe complications in young patients with ai. the study is registered at http://www.controlled-trials.com (isrctn70438627). © international & american associations for dental research.