Casting Alloys

Applications-inlay, onlay,  crowns, and bridges

Terms

a. Precious-based on valuable elements
b. Noble or immune-corrosion-resistant element or alloy
c. Base or active-corrosion-prone alloy
d. Passive -corrosion resistant because of surface oxide film
e. Karat (24 karat is 100% gold; 18 karat is 75% gold)
f. Fineness (1000 fineness is I00% gold; 500 fineness is 50% gold)

Classification

High-gold alloys are > 75% gold or other noble metals

Type 1-    83% noble metals (e.g., in simple inlays)
Type II-≥78% noble metals (e.g.,in inlays and onlays)
Type IlI-≥75% noble metals (e.g., in crowns and bridges)
Type IV-≥75% noble metals (e.g., in partial dentures)

Medium-gold alloys are 25% to 75% gold or other noble metals

Low-gold alloys are <25% gold or other noble metals

Gold-substitute alloys arc alloys not containing gold

(1) Palladium-silver alloys-passive .because of mixed oxide film
(2) Cobalt-chromium alloys-passive because of Cr203 oxide film
(3) Iron-chromium alloys-passive because of Cr203 oxide film

Titanium alloys are based on 90% to 100% titanium ; passive because of TiO2 oxide film

Components of gold alloys

-    Gold contributes to corrosion resistance
-    Copper contributes to hardness and strength
-    Silver counteracts orange color of copper
-   Palladium increases melting point and hardness
-    Platinum increases melting point
-    Zinc acts as oxygen scavenger during casting

Manipulation

-    Heated to just beyond melting temperature for casting
o    Cooling shrinkage causes substantial contraction

Properties

Physical

-    Electrical and thermal conductors
-   Relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion

Chemical

-    Silver  content affects susceptibility to tarnish
-   Corrosion resistance  is attributable to nobility or passivation

Mechanical

-   High tensile and compressive strengths but relatively weak in thin sections, such as margins, and can be deformed relatively easily
-    Good wear resistance except in contact with Porcelain
 

Dental Porcelain and PFM Porcelains

Applications/Use

a. Porcelain inlays and jacket crowns
b. PFM crowns and bridges
c. Denture teeth

Terms

PFM-porcelain fused to metal
Fusing-adherence of porcelain particles into a single porcelain mass

Classification

 Dental porcelain is manufactured as a powder. When it is heated to a very high temperature in a special oven, it fuses into a homogeneous mass. The heating process is called baking. Upon cooling, the mass is hard and dense. The material is made in a variety of shades to closely match most tooth colors. Baked porcelain has a translucency similar to that of dental enamel, so that porcelain crowns, pontics, and inlays of highly pleasing appearance can be made. Ingredients of porcelain include feldspar, kaolin, silica in the form of quartz, materials which act as fluxes to lower the fusion point, metallic oxide, and binders. Porcelains are classified into high-, medium-, and low-fusing groups, depending upon the temperature at which fusion takes place. 
 
High-Fusing Porcelains. High-fusing porcelains fuse at 2,400o Fahrenheit or over. They are used for the fabrication of full porcelain crowns (jacket crowns). 

Medium-Fusing Porcelains. Medium-fusing porcelains fuse between 2,000o and 2,400o Fahrenheit. They are used in the fabrication of inlays, crowns, facings, and pontics. A pontic is the portion of a fixed partial denture, which replaces a missing tooth. 

Low-Fusing Porcelains. Low-fusing porcelains fuse between 1,600o and 2,000o Fahrenheit. They are used primarily to correct or modify the contours of previously baked high- or medium-fusing porcelain restorations. Eg  for PFM restorations

Structure

Components

a. Large number of oxides but principally silicon oxide, aluminum oxide. and potassium oxide    
b. Oxides are supplied by mixing clay, feldspar, and quartz.

Manipulation

Porcelain powders mixed with water and compacted into position for firing
Shrinkage is 30% on firing because of fusing and so must be made oversized and built up by several firing steps

Properties

1. Physical

a. Excellent electrical and thermal insulation
b. Low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction
c. Good color and translucency; excellent aesthetics

2. Chemical

a. Not resistant to acids (and can be dissolved by  contact with APF topical fluoride treatments)
b. Can be acid-etched with phosphoric acid or  hydrofluoric acid for providing microll1echanical retention for cements

3. Mechanical

a. Harder than tooth structure and ,will cause opponent wear
b. Can be polished with aluminum oxide pastes

Acrylic Denture Bases

Use - used to support artificial teeth

Classification
a. PMMA/MMA dough systems
b. PMMA/MMA pour resin systems

1. Components

a. Powder-PMMA polymer, peroxide initiator, and pigments
b. Liquid-MMA monomer, hydroquinone inhibitor, and cross-linking agents

2. Reaction
a. Heat (or chemicals) is used as an accelerator to decompose peroxide into free radicals
b. Free radicals initiate polymerization of MMA into PMMA
c. New PMMA is formed as a matrix around residual PMMA powder particles
d. Linear shrinkage is 5% to 7% of monomer on polymerization

3. Manipulation
a. P/L mixed to form dough or fluid resin to fill mold
b. Mold heated to start and control reaction

Properties

I. Physical

a. Excellent thermal and electrical insulator
b. Very dense
c. Excellent dimensional stability
d. Good reproduction of fine detail of hard and soft tissues

2. Chemical

a. Heating will reverse the reaction (decompose the material into calcium sulfate hemihydrate, the original dry component)
b. Models, casts, and dies should be wet during grinding or cutting operations to prevent heating

3. Mechanical

a. Better powder packing and lower water contents at mixing lead to higher compressive strengths (plaster < stone < diestone)
b. Poor resistance to abrasion

4. Biologic

a. Materials are safe for contact with external - epithelial tissues
b. Masks should be worn during grinding or polishing operations that are likely to produce gypsum dust

Classification

Rigid impression materials

(1) Plaster
(2) Compound
(3) Zinc oxide-eugenol

Flexible hydrocolloid impression materials

(I) Agar-agar (reversible hydrocolloid)
(2) Alginate (irreversible hydrocolloid)

Flexible, elastomeric, or rubber impression materials

(1) Polysulfide rubber (mercaptan rubber)
(2) Silicone rubber (condensation silicone)
(3) Polyether rubber
(4) Polyvinyl siloxane (addition silicone)
 

Casting ring

CASTING RING LINERS

Most common way to provide investment expansion is by using a liner in the casting ring .Traditionally asbestose was used .
Non asbestose ring liner used are :
1) Aluminosilicate ceramic liner .
2) Cellulose paper liner .

The aim of using a resilient liner is to

-. allow different types of investmentbexpansion (act as a cushion)
_. facilitate venting during casting procedure.
_. facilitate the removal of the investment block after casting.&. prevent the distortion by permitting the outward expansion of the mold.
The casting ring holds the investment in place during setting and restricts the expansion of the mold. Normally a resilient liner is placed inside the ring leaving about 2-3 mm from both ends to allow for supporting contact of the investment with the casting ring.

Purpose of Casting Ring Liner

Ringer liner is he most commonly used technique to provide investment expansion. To ensure uniform expansion , liner is cut to fit the inside diameter of the casting ring with no overlap. 

Non-asbestos Ring Liners: Ceramic (aluminum silicate) Cellulose (paper) Ceramic-cellulose combination Safety of the ceramic ring liners remains uncertain, because aluminum silicate also appears capable of producing hazardous-size respirable particles