OBJECTIVETo compare the long-term clinical effects of two kinds of crowns and bridges made of porcelain fused to Au-Pt alloy and Ni-Cr alloy.

METHODSA total of 131 teeth (64 patients) were rehabilitated using porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, among which 59 were rehabilitated with Au-Pt alloy metal ceramic crown and 72 with Ni-Cr alloy metal ceramic crown.The porcelain fracture, shade, marginal adaptation, gingival discoloration, and gingival status after finishing restoration and 36 months of follow-up were evaluated.

RESULTSAfter 36 months of restoration, porcelain fused to Au-Pt alloy crown showed better clinical effects than porcelain fused to Ni-Cr alloy crown in shade, marginal adaptation, gingival discoloration, as well as gingival status (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Au-Pt alloy ceramic crown is superior to Ni-Cr alloy ceramic crown in long-term clinical effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromium Alloys ; Crowns ; Female ; Gold Alloys ; Humans ; Male ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the color difference between Au-Pt alloy porcelain and Ni-Cr alloy porcelain.

METHODS30 metal-ceramic specimens with different dentin porcelain thickness were fabricated with two types of metal-ceramic alloy, each type of alloy had 15 specimens. L*, a*, b* were measured after opaque porcelain was applied, and dentin porcelain was fired 1, 3, 5, 7 times by MINOLTA CR-100. Then delta E was calculated which reflected the color difference between high-gold alloy porcelain and Ni-Cr alloy porcelain.

RESULTSComparing with Ni-Cr alloy porcelain, the color of Au-Pt alloy porcelain was reddish, yellowish and less bright. The delta E between high-gold alloy porcelain and Ni-Cr alloy porcelain in shade A2 was largest when opaque porcelain was applied. It decreased when dentin porcelain was applied. It became smallest when fired 3 times, and increased along with the increase of fire times. It was larger than 1.5 except firing 3 times. When dentin porcelain was applied, delta E which was larger than 1.5 among different dentin porcelain thickness decreased along with the increase of dentin porcelain thickness.

CONCLUSIONThe color difference between the two types of metal-ceramic alloy should be carefully taken into account in order to improve the quality of color matching.

Chromium ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Gold Alloys ; Humans ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Nickel ; Platinum ; Prosthesis Coloring

OBJECTIVETo compare the color differences of different metal bases and different opaque thickness, and evaluate the best thickness of opaque on different metal bases.

METHODSPrecious metal, gold sediment and Ni-Cr plates were prepared as bases, then opaque samples of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm thickness were fabricated on such plates. Minolta chromatics meter CR-321 was used to examine the color properties of these samples, and deltaE was calculated to evaluate the color difference of the specimens.

RESULTSFor the restoration based on Ni-Cr and precious alloys, the color of restorations was not affected by the color of metal bases as the thickness of opaque reached 0.3 mm, and the chromatic value deltaE < 1.5 NBS. For the restoration based on gold sediment, the color of restoration was not affected by the color of metal as the thickness of opaque reached 0.1 mm, and the chromatic value deltaE < 1.5 NBS.

CONCLUSIONDifferent opaque thickness was necessary to obtain ideal color appearance in clinic. As the opaque thickness increased, the color of restoration based on Ni-Cr and noble metal increased but the color of restoration based on gold sediment decreased.

Color ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Porcelain ; Gold ; Metal Ceramic Alloys

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of recasting on the mechanical properties of Au-Pt ceramic alloy.

METHODSAu-Pt ceramic alloy samples were prepared and recast for 3 times without adding any new Au-Pt ceramic alloy. The tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness of each specimen were measured.

RESULTSBeing cast for different times, the Au-Pt ceramic alloy showed no significant differences on their tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength or Vickers hardness. The flexural modulus of the Au-Pt alloys being cast for 2 or 3 times was significantly higher than that of the alloys being cast for 1 time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Au-Pt ceramic alloy can be recast for 3 times at least, without any decrease in the mechanical properties.

Alloys ; Ceramics ; Dental Alloys ; Gold Alloys ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Tensile Strength

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of electro-chemical corrosion and surface roughness change for the cases of Ti abutment connected to restoration made of base metal alloys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was hypothesized that Ni-Cr alloys in different compositions possess different corrosion resistances, and thus the specimens (13x13x1.5 mm) in this study were fabricated with 3 different types of metal alloys, commonly used for metal ceramic restorations. The electrochemical characteristics were evaluated with potentiostat (Parstat 2273A) and the level of surface roughness change was observed with surface roughness tester. Paired t-test was used to compare mean average surface roughness (Ra) changes of each specimen group. RESULTS: All specimens made of nickel-chromium based alloys, average surface roughness was increased significantly (P < .05). Among them, the Ni-Cr-Be alloy (0.016 +/- 0.007 microm) had the largest change of roughness followed by Ni-Cr (0.012 +/- 0.003 microm) and Ni-Cr-Ti (0.012 +/- 0.002 microm) alloy. There was no significant changes in surface roughness between each metal alloys after corrosion. CONCLUSION: In the case of galvanic couples of Ti in contact with all specimens made of nickel-chromium based alloys, average surface roughness was increased.
Alloys ; Chromium Alloys ; Corrosion ; Family Characteristics ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of aurum coating on corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr alloy in artificial saliva environment.

METHODSThe corrosion potential (E(corr)), self-corrosion current density (I(corr)), and polarization resistance (R(p)) of three alloys were measured using electrochemical methods to compare the difference of corrosion resistance between aurum-coated Ni-Cr alloy and Ni-Cr alloy or Au alloy. Meanwhile, microstructural and phase diffraction was examined with field scanning electromicroscopy (FSEM) and surface chemical analysis was performed by energy diffraction X-ray (EDX).

RESULTSThe I(corr) of aurum-coated Ni-Cr alloy was (0.70 +/- 0.20) x 10(-6) A/cm2, which was significantly higher than that of Au alloy (P < 0.05) and lower than that of Ni-Cr alloy (P < 0.05). R(p) of aurum-coated Ni-Cr alloy was (34.77 +/- 12.61) KOmega.cm2, which was higher than that of Ni-Cr alloy (P < 0.05) and lower than that of Au alloy (P < 0.05). The results of FSEM showed that the corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr alloy coated with aurum was better than that of Ni-Cr alloy. The results of EDX indicated that released Ni and Cr of Ni-Cr alloy coated with aurum after test were less than those of Ni-Cr alloy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe corrosion resistance of aurum-coated Ni-Cr alloy is higher than that of Ni-Cr alloy.

Chromium Alloys ; chemistry ; Corrosion ; Electrochemistry ; Gold Alloys ; chemistry ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Saliva, Artificial ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of solid phase transformation on the metal-ceramic compatibility of Co-Cr alloy during firing programs.

METHODS9 foils of Co-Cr and Ni-Cr alloy with the dimension of 25 mmx3 mmx0.5 mm were casted using lost wax technology respectively. Among them, 6 specimens were subjected to metal-ceramic bonding strength test (three point bending method), the ceramic layer of 3 specimens were removed for X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. One cylindrical specimen of each alloy was casted for the test of coefficient of thermal expansion, cooling curves were recorded.

RESULTSThe metal-ceramic bonding strength of Ni-Cr, Co-Cr alloy was (49.1 +/- 3.40), (40.9 +/- 2.02) MPa respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups' bonding strength (P = 0.00). The coefficient of thermal expansion in the 20-500 degrees C interval of Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloy was 13.9 x 10(-6), 13.8 x 10(-6) x K(-1) respectively. XRD analysis indicated that the microstructure of Ni-Cr alloy was austenite. While Co-Cr alloy was constituted by fcc phase, hcp phase and sigma phase.

CONCLUSIONDuring the cooling procedure, the transformation of fcc phase to hcp phase and segregation of needle-like sigma phase intensify the linear contraction speed of Co-Cr alloy, which decreases the metal-ceramic adaptability.

Alloys ; Ceramics ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Porcelain ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Metals

OBJECTIVETo compare the shear bond strength(SBS) of cast Co-Cr alloys and selective laser melting(SLM) Co-Cr alloys with those of dental porcelain.

METHODSA dental porcelain (Vita) was applied on cast and SLM Co-Cr alloy specimens (n = 10). SBS test was conducted, and fracture mode analysis was determined. Student's t-test by SPSS 13.0 software was employed to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe SLM Co-Cr alloy specimens had lower SBS values than the cast Co-Cr alloy specimens (P > 0.05). The metal-porcelain bond strength value of the cast group was (33.11 +/- 4.98) MPa, and that of the SLM group was (30.94 +/- 5.98) MPa. The specimens in both test groups exhibited mixed failure.

CONCLUSIONThe metal-porcelain system processed by SLM exhibit a bond strength that is similar to that of the cast group. This system also display a high precision.

Alloys ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Porcelain ; Lasers ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Metals

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanical properties of Co-Cr ceramic alloy after recasts.

METHODSCo-Cr ceramic alloy cast samples were prepared and recast for 3 times without adding any new Co-Cr ceramic alloy. The tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness of each specimen were measured.

RESULTSBeing cast for different times, the Co-Cr ceramic alloy showed no significant differences on their tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness.

CONCLUSIONCo-Cr ceramic alloy can be recast for 3 times at least, without decrease of the mechanical properties.

Alloys ; Ceramics ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo study the shape, thickness and oxide percentage of major metal element of oxide film on Ni-Cr porcelain alloy after anodizing pretreatment.

METHODS10 samples were made and divided into 2 groups at random. Then after surface pretreatment, the oxide films of two samples of each group were analyzed using electronic scanning microscope. The rest 3 samples were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES).

RESULTSLightly selective solution appeared because the different component parts of the alloy have dissimilar electrode, whose dissolve velocity were quite unlike. The sample's metal surface expanded, so the mechanical interlocking of porcelain and metal increased bond strength. The thickness of oxide film was 1.72 times of the control samples. The oxide percentage of major metal elements such as Cr, Ni and Mo were higher, especially Cr. It initially involved the formation of a thin oxide bound to the alloy and second, the ability of the formed oxide to saturate the porcelain, completing the chemical bond of porcelain to metal.

CONCLUSIONThe method of anodizing Ni-Cr porcelain alloy can easily control the forming of oxide film which was thin and its surface pattern was uniform. It is repeated and a good method of surface pretreatment before firing cycle.

Alloys ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Porcelain ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nickel ; Oxides