The authors present the study of prosthetic treatment of shortened dental arch by means of fixed bridges made either from Wiron 99 metal-fused ceramic or Aurix alloy. At Stomatological Clinic in Brno, 74 cases of shortened dental arch were treated by fixed bridges within the period of 1998–2000. In the upper jaw, 39 bridges were made (17 metal-fused ceramicWiron 99 alloy, 21 from Aurix). In the lower jaw, 35 bridges were made (14 mental-fused ceramicWiron 99 alloy, 21 from Aurix). Six months after the treatment, mean values of CPITN a PBI indices were evaluated for each patient, separately for the upper and lower jaw. When Wiron 99 metal-fused ceramic was used, mean CPITN and PBI values were lower than in the case of Aurix combined with composite. The difference was particularly higher in the lower jaw. For dental prosthetic practice, the use of metal-fused ceramic bridges might be recommended, because they influence CPITN and PBI values less than bridges made from Aurix alloy.

        Key words: bridge – metal-fused ceramic – venner bridges –Wiron 99 – Aurix – CPITN index – PBI index