The dental profession is currently experiencing a technology explosion. Processes are being replaced by modern, inexpensive, and precise techniques that can be used to solve complex restorative problems. Electrical discharge machining (DEM, known as spark erosion in Europe) is a nonconventional, industrial technique that has application in dentistry. EDM may be defined as a metal removal process using a series of sparks to erode material from a workpiece in a liquid medium under carefully controlled conditions. EDM is recently adopted in the dental laboratory to fabricate precision attachments, hybrid telescope crowns, Ti-ceramic crowns. EDM has also been used to achieve a passive precision metalto-metal fit between the substructure bar and the removable superstructure and to correct the fit of implant retained restorations. in this article, a brief history and explanation of EDM is discussed and a description of the use of this process for fabricating attachments and crowns or for correcting the fit of cast restorations is presented.
Crowns ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Dentistry ; Explosions ; Laboratories, Dental ; Telescopes

Cortical support is an important factor, as the engagement of the fixture in strong compact bone offers an increased load-carrying capacity and initial stability. Because of the poor bone quality in the posterior mandible and other anatomic considerations, it has been suggested that implant fixtures be placed in these locations with apical engagement of the lingual cortical plate for so-called bicortication. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of cortical engagements and in addtion polyoxymethylene (POM) intramobile connector(IMC) of IMZ implant on implant load transfer in edentulous posterior segment of mandible, using three-dimensional(3D) finite element analysis models composed of cortical and trabecular bone involving single implant. Variables such as (1) the crestal peri-implant defect, (2) the apical engagement of lingual cortical plate, (3) the occlusal contact position (a vertical load at central fossa or buccal cusp tip), and (4) POM IMC were investigated. Stress patterns were compared and interfacial stresses along the bone-implant interface were monitored specially. Within the scope of this study, the following observations were made. 1) Offset load and angulation of fixture led to increase the local interfacial stresses. 2) Stresses were concentrated toward the cortical bones, but the crestal peri-implant defect increased the interfacial stresses in trabecular bone. 3) For the model with bicortication, it was noticed that the crestal cortical bone provided more resistance to the bending moment and the lingual cortical plate provided more support for the vertical load. But Angulaton problem of the fixture from the lingual cortical engagement caused the local interfacial stress concentrations. 4) It was not clear that POM IMC had the effect on stress distribution under the present experimental conditions, expecially for the cases of crestal peri-implant defect.
Finite Element Analysis* ; Mandible*

This study measured the relative displacements of the five-unit fixed partial dentures as cast with the same fixed partial dentures sectioned and assembled by investment-soldering, soldering stand-soldering, and cast-joining techniques. A total of fifteen specimens using a type IV gold alloy wee one-piece cast as control and then sectioned and assembled five test specimens for each method were prepared. A computerized three dimensional coordinate measuring machine and specially designed cylinder for this study were used. Displacement was defined by six displacement variables for the each of cylinders incorporated in each casting: three component displacements ( Lx, Ly, and Lz) and rotational displacements( thetax, thetay, thetaz). The global displacement was computed using the mathematical formula R= Global displacement ={{{{rm SQRT { (x'-x)^2 +(y'-y)^2 + (z'-z)^2} }} }} Under the conditions of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The investment-soldering group showed the largest mean value of final global displacements, followed by stand-soldering group, cast-joining group and one-piece cast group. However, between the mean values of final global displacement for the cast-joining group and one-piece cast group, there was no significant difference. 2. For investment-soldering and stand-soldering groups, the greater global displacements were recorded in soldering phase than in indexing or investing phase. 3. For one-piece cast group, the displacements occured mostly in the casting phase. And for castjoining group, there was no significant difference in global displacements among the fabrication procedures. 4. Intercentroidal distance decreased in framework-pattering, solder-indexing, solder-standing, and soldering phases, but increased in investment block-investing and casting phases. 5. Specially designed cylinder for touch-trigger type coordinate measuring machine was validated.
Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Alloys ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Investments ; Methods

Krukenberg tumor, which can account for 30-40% of metastatic cancers to the ovaries, arises in the ovarian stroma and is usually metastatic from the gastrointestinal tract, especially from the stomach. The pathognomonic feature is the presence of signet ring cells, which may be arranged in acini or appear as individual cells. We experienced a Krukenberg tumor which was bilateral and associated with left ovarian dermoid cyst. This patient was treated for a primary gastric carcinoma(Stage II) about 3 years ago. After bilateral salpingoophorectomy, she received adjuvant chemotherapy. But, she died about fow months after operation.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Dermoid Cyst* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Ovary ; Stomach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of wattage and curing time on surface hardness, three-point bending strength and internal porosity of microwave curing denture base resin. Two sizes of resin spicimens were made of Acron MC ; 3.5x10x60mm for surface hardness and three-point bending strength measurement and 5x12x60mm for internal porosity measurement. They were cured by microwave energy at varing wattages(500W, 700W) and curing times(2min., 3min., 4min.) to determine if a certain wattage/curing time combination would improve physical properties. Surface hardness was measured with Vikers hardness tester, three-point bend-ing strength with universal testing machine and internal porosity was calculated by measuring the weight in air and in water. The results obtained were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference in percent porosity among experimental groups(p>0.05). 2. 500W/3min, group showed the higher surface hardness than 700W/2, 3, 4min. groups(p<0.05), and 700W/4 min. group showed the lower surface hardness than 500W/2, 3, 4min. groups(p<0.05), but there was no significant difference among others(p>0.05). 3. 500W/3min. group yielded the higher value of bending strength than 500W/2min., 700W/3, 4min. groups(p<0.05), but there was no significant difference among others(p>0.05).
Denture Bases* ; Dentures* ; Hardness ; Hardness Tests ; Microwaves* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Porosity ; Water

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences suggest that anesthetic action within the spinal cord is important in suppressing somatic responses to painful stimuli. Intrathecal endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to have antinociceptive effect. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether intrathecal ET-1 may influence the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in rats and access the role of the spinal cord as the sites of anesthetic action in blocking somatic responsiveness. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats fitted with an indwelling intrathecal catheter, we determined the MAC of isoflurane using a tail-clamp technique as a painful stimulus, combined with end-tidal anesthetic sampling. In experiment 1, the control MAC was determined and changes of control MAC were observed after intrathecal ET-1 (4x10-2 nmol, 4x10-3 nmol) administration. In experiment 2, we observed the effects of L or N type Ca++ channel blocker such as verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) on the MAC after measurement of the control MAC. In experiment 3, after measurement of the control MAC, ET-1 (10-2 nmol) was administered intrathecally and the MAC was determined again. Next, intrathecal verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) was injected. After that, the MAC was determined again. RESULTS: In experiment 1, ET-1 decreased the MAC of isoflurane and its effect was sustained over 2 hours. In experiment 2, the MAC, determined following administration of verapamil or W-conotoxin, was not different from that of the control. In experiment 3, the MAC was decreased after ET-1 administration and then increased following injection of verapamil or W-conotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ET-1, in relation to calcium, might play an important role in determining the MAC of isoflurane in the spinal cord.
Animals ; Calcium ; Catheters ; Endothelin-1* ; Isoflurane* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Verapamil

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the color differences that can exist between differnet brands of dentin porcelain having identical shade designations. The instrumental colorimetric technique was used to determine these differences. The three brands of dentin porcelain used were Vita VMK-68, Shofu Vintage, and Ceramco II. The three shades selected were the Vita Lumin shades A2, B2, and C2. The color difference values were compared with each other using L*, a*, b*, three variables of the CIELAB color system, and E. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Corresponding shades of different brands of dentin porcelain produced different L*, a*, b* values. 2. The greatest E value in corresponding shade was found to exist between Ceramco II and Shofu Vintage, followed by between Vita VMK-68 and Ceramco II, and then between Vita VMK-68 and Shofu Vintage. 3. The E values in shade C2 were mainly influenced by L* value ; however none of L*, a*, b* values had greater influence on E values than the others in shade A2, B2. 4. Shofu Vintage had the highest b* value, followed by Vita VMK-68, and then Ceramco II.
Dental Porcelain* ; Dentin*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the displacements of cast framework by torch soldering and electric soldering techniques. Specimen had two cylinders and connecting bar that had sectioned with 0.3mm gap at mid point. 10 of total specimens were divided into two groups. In torch soldered group, soldering investment block was made and conventional torch soldering procedure was carried out. In electric soldered group, electric soldering was carried out on the master cast without soldering investment block by using electric soldering machine(Dentapunkt DP 7, Kulzer, Germany). After soldering procedure, three dimensional coordinates of two centroids of each cylinder were measured by three dimensional coordinate measuring machine. The intercentroidal displacement and global displacement were calculated and then, these values were compared and evaluated. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Intercentroidal distances of specimens decreased after both soldering procedures, and the decrease in intercentroidal distance was greater for torch soldered group than for electric soldered group 2. Global displacements of torch soldered group were greater than those of electric soldered group
Investments

The purpose of this study was to investigate setting and thermal expansion of dental soldering investments. In order to compare expansion rates and to investigate the effect of water/powder ratio on expansion, setting and thermal expansion of four dental soldering investments were measured under three different water/powder ratio conditions: standard, 20% decreased and 20% increased. Setting expansion of investments was measured by use of dialgauge method. Each measurement was started two minutes later from the beginning of spatulation and recorded every one minute for one hour. Thermal expansion of cylindrical test specimens, 10mm diameter, 50mm length, was recorded in a Thermodilatometer at heating rate of 10degrees C per minute from 25degrees C to 700degrees C. The results of this study were obtained as follows: 1. Setting expansion rates under the standard water/power ratio condition were 0.198% in Speed-E, 0.090% in Deguvest, 0.080% in CM and Hi-temp. Setting expansion of Speed-E was significantly different from those of CM, Deguvest and Hi-temp, and setting expansion of Deguvest was significantly different from those of CM and Hi-temp(p<.05). 2. Under the decreased water/powder ratio condition, there was significant increase in setting expansion of 4 dental soldering investments(p<.05). 3. There were no significant differences in setting expansions of investments except Hi-temp between standard and increased water/powder ratio condition(p<.05). 4. Thermal expansion rates under the standard water/powder ratio condition were 1.923% in Deguvest, 1.629% in Speed-E, 1.619% in Hi-temp and 1.580% in CM. No significant difference in thermal expansions under the standard water/powder ratio condition existed only between Speed-E and Hi-temp(p<.05). 5. Under the decreased water/powder ratio condition, there was significant increase in thermal expansion of CM and Deguvest but decrease in thermal expansion of Speed-E(p<.05). 6. Under the increased water/powder ratio condition, there was significant decrease in thermal expansion of CM, Deguvest and Speed-E but decrease in thermal expansion of Hi-temp(p<.05).
Dental Soldering* ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Investments*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the correlation between the carcinogenesis of gallbladder and the expression of lysozyme, p53, c-erbB2 and CEA in gallbladder lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty cases of gallbladder lesions (containing 17 cases of GB carcinoma) were examined. We analyzed the clinicopathologic findings of the early (stage I & II) and advanced carcinoma (stage III, IV & V) and those of carcinoma with or without metaplasia in the tumor. We performed p53, c-erbB2 and CEA immunohistochemical staining and compared their findings with those of normal mucosa and preneoplastic lesions. We also performed lysozyme immunohistochemical staining and compared its finding with metaplastic and non-metaplastic lesions. RESULTS: There are two distinct genetic pathways in gallbladder cacinogenesis and metaplastic carcinoma was more frequent than non-metaplastic carcinoma. Metaplasia of gallbladder did not reveal any difference of the clinicopathologic findings and depth of invasion (Nevin stage). Lysozyme expression was found in all metaplastic lesions but non-expression did not indicate non-metaplastic lesions. p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively. The correlation of p53 and c-erbB2 expressions was found but which did not indicate that the co-expression was needed in the carcinogenesis. CEA immunohistochemical staining may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of benign lesions and precancerous and cancerous lesions of the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively.
Carcinogenesis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder* ; Metaplasia* ; Mucous Membrane ; Muramidase