METALLIC DENTURE BASE MATERIALS

Introduction Definitions Brief History. Classification of denture base materials Ideal requirements Advantages and disadvantages of metallic denture bases . Different metallic denture bases

Review of literature Summary and conclusion References

introduction
In the space age , there is a belief prevalent that modern technology can be put to use to solve any scientific problem, if the problem can be clearly defined .

All through the history of making dentures we find a constant struggle of the dentist to find a suitable denture base.

DEFINITIONS

Denture base : That part of a complete or removable partial denture

which rests upon the basal seat and to which the teeth are attached. - GPT METAL BASE : The metallic portion of the denture base forming a part or all of the basal surface of the denture .It serves as a base for the attachment of the resin portion of the denture base and the teeth.

Brief history of denture base materials

Various types of materials have been used in the past

for fabrication of denture bases.

Wood, ivory, baked porcelain, gold,silver, cheoplastic metal and celluloid were used. Of the metals used gold and silver were the best , but their cost was too great for the average patient.

Brief history of denture base materials

In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered a method of producing rubber, and in 1851,Nelson Goodyear invented a process for making hard rubber or vulcanite.

In 1937, methyl methacrylate was found to be useful as a denture base.

The first know casting of an aluminium complete denture base in the United States was done in 1867 by BEAN.

Chromium-cobalt Erdle and Prange.

base

alloys

were

introduced for use in dentistry in 1933 by

CLASSIFICATION OF DENTURE BASE MATERIALS 1.Metallic denture base materials example : Cobalt-chromium Gold, titanium 2. Non Metallic denture base materials : example :Acrylic resins 3.COMBINATION

Ideal requirements of a denture base material

Bio-compatible Adequate physical and mechanical properties:

- High flexure and impact strength

- Long fatigue life

- High abrasion resistance - High thermal conductivity - Low density - Low solubility and sorption to oral fluids

- Dimensionally stable and accurate - Superior esthetics and color stability - Radio-opacity - Good adhesion with denture teeth and liners - Ease of fabrication with minimum expense - Easy To repair - Readily cleansable

Advantages of cast metal denture bases over acrylic bases

Lack of bulk with more strength The metal base prevents warpage during processing. Stronger and are less subject to breakabge. More accurate fit and more faithful reproduction of tissue details. Less tissue changes occur under metal bases. Dimesional accuracy. Less porous. Better thermal conductivity Show less lateral deformation in function.

Disadvatages of metal bases

Greater technical costs. Difficulty of rebasing and relining Less margin for error permissible in the posterior palate seal area

Increased weight for a maxillary denture

Despite the popularity of PMMA as a denture base there are various situations where a metallic denture base can be used :
- Single maxillary complete denture opposing a natural mandibular dentition - Unfavourable occlusal plane

- Heavy anterior contacts

- Heavy masticatory forces

Different metallic denture base materials:

Cobalt-chromium alloys :

As early as 1949 it was estimated that nearly 80% of all partial denture appliances were cast from co-cr alloys.

composition :
Principle elements (approx. 90%)

Cobalt 60%
Chromium 25% to 30%

Other components

:
silicone nitrogen carbon & manganese

Molybdenum
Aluminium Berylium Nickel chromium alloys : Nickel 70% Chromium 16% Other constituents

1.Chromium : Responsible for the tarnish resistance and stainless properties. When the chromium content of an alloy is more than 30% it is more difficult to cast ; and therefore dental alloys should not contain more than 28% or 29% chromium.

These alloys are considered to be technique sensitive

Cobalt and nickel : In general cobalt interchangeable . and nickel are

Cobalt increases the elastic modulus ,strength and hardness more than Nickel does.

Other alloying components :

CARBON : Increase in carbon content increases the hardness of Co-based alloys If the carbon content is increased by 0.2% more than the desired amount results in a too hard and too brittle alloy not suitable for dental appliances . whereas a decrease of 0.2% will decrease the tensile and the yield strength

MOLYBDENUM : (3% to 6% ) -Contributes to the strength of the alloy.

-Initially tungsten was used , but it reduced the elongation ,was therefore replaced by other hardening elements like molybdenum .

ALUMINIUM : -Forms a compound with Ni and Al (Ni3Al) which increases the tensile and the yield strength of the alloys

BERYLIUM : About 1% lowers the fusion temperature range of the alloy by about 100 degrees C.

SILICONE AND MANGANESE :

Increase the fluidity and castability of these alloys.

NITROGEN : If present contributes to the brittle qualities of these alloys .

titanium

Ti was developed by William Gregor of England in 1791,and was named by Martin H. Kalproth of Germany in 1795. Welhelm Kroll1930 invented useful metallurgical processes for Ti and is considered to be the FATHER of Ti dentistry. In the recent years ,the attention of Ti has switched from its previous attention with jet engines, mammoth aircraft frames to prosthetic limbs ,dental implants.

Ores of Ti : Rutile

Ilmenite

Ti processing :

1.Reduction process 2.Melting the sponge 3.Primary ingot formation 4.Secondary ingot formation

Types of Ti :

Ti and Ti alloys exist in 3 major categories according to predominant phases present as :alpha - Beta and - Alpha-beta forms When pure Ti is heated at 882+/- 2degrees C the metal exhibits an allotrophic phase transformation in which a hexagonal close-packed alpha phase structure is transformed into a body centered cubic structure as the temperature is raised above that temperature. Even a rapid quenching does not suppress the alpha beta phase transformation .Thus a pure Ti casting has a alpha hcp structure near room temperature .

Forms and sizes :Alloyed and unalloyed Ti

is available in different forms and sizes like :

plates , bar ,rod, wire, sheet, strip, powder..

Commercially pure Ti: available in 4

different grades(ASTM-Grade1-4)

Dental Ti casting :
Because of the inherent properties of Ti that made it difficult to melt and cast, traditional casting machines that cast in air with conventional ceramic crucible and investment materials could not be used .

More specialized casting equipment and mold materials developed solely for this purpose were developed.

Casting problems were due to-

1. The high melting point of Ti (1670 degrees C),Murray 1987.

2. The strong chemical affinity of Ti with gases viz. O2,H2,N2.. 3. High reducing ability of Ti

4. High solubility of the same gases in Ti

5. Low density of Ti

Thus, improvements in the conventional casting methods were required viz: 1. Selecting heat sources high enough for fusing Ti. 2. Isolating the molten metal from air. 3. Developing a container which reacts with very little or does not react at all with the molten Ti. 4. Finding new ideas for delivering the molten metal in the mold at desired velocity .

Ti casting equipment :

Inorder to cope with the high fusion temperature of Ti

alloys , 2 melting methods are used 1. Argon/arc melting with a non-consumable tungsten electrode. 2.High frequency induction melting

Melting
1.Electric arc

Casting
A. Gas Pressure

Equipment
Casmatic (Iwatani, Osaka, Japan) Cyclarc Manita ( Tokyo , Japan)

B. Centrifugal Force

Titaniumer Ohera (Osaka,Japan) Ti cast Super C (Selec , Japan)

Arvatroa (Kyato , Japan) Titanus (Bego, Germany)

2.High frequency A. Gas pressure B. Centrifugal force

ALUMINIUM

Basically produced by the electrolysis of bauxite ore in a molten cryolite bath.

BACKGROUND

The first know casting of an aluminium complete denture base in the US was done in 1867. Carroll presented a method for casting the aluminium bases under pressure.

ALUMINIUM

Prothero detailed some of the advantages of Aluminium as thermal conductivity, malleability, and

rigidity; and disadvantages as warpage and imperfect

density of the casting

Campbell

suggested

that

aluminiums

thermal

conductivity not only elicits a favourable patient response , but also promotes a normal pink, physiologic condition of the mouth.

Sizeland Coe was the first to discuss the use of a super pure alluminium alloy for the construction of denture bases, as it eliminated much of the intra-oral corrosion that existed. Lundquist felt that the primary dis -advantage of the alloy was its discoloration . Barsoum et al evaluated the accuracy of fit of Al bases as compared to heat and cold cured resins-Al had a better fit.

Indications of an aluminium denture base: 1. Is an excellent choice when the natural mandibular dentition opposes the edentulous maxillary arch. 2.patients who have undergone maxillary and mandibular atrophy through years of CD use will benefit . 3. Patients who have had fracture problems with resin denture bases. Contraindications : 1.Following recent extractions. 2.Systemic problems 3.Severe undercuts

Advantages : 1.Accurate fit . 2.Greater accuracy and added retention 3.Good thermal conductivity, malleability. 4.Interocclusal record making is more accurately reproduced. 5.Less bulk with more strength. 6.Inexpensive

Technique for casting aluminium

1. Duplicate master cast with reversible hydrocolloid. 2. Pour refractory cast, remove and place in a drying oven at 190 degree C for 30min .

3. Trim the refractory cast

4. Immerse the refractory cast in bees wax at 290

degrees F 5. Place one thickness baseplate wax over entire tissue bearing surface of the cast. 6. Coat the cast with Ti seal. Place retention beads

7. Place the main sprue as well as the auxillary

sprue.

Induction casting is recommended for aluminium denture base. Fill the crucible with Al pellets & push the start button. Keep the arm spinning for 4 minutes non stop. Alloy the casting to bench cure for atleast 45 minutes Final cleaning and anodization may be done if required.

STAINLESS STEEL DENTURE BASE When approximately 12% to 30% chromium is added to iron ,the alloy is called STAINLESS-STEEL .
Types of stainless steel (crystal structure formed chromium by iron atoms )

nickel

carbon

Ferritic Austentic Martensitic

11.5-27 16-26

0 7-22

0.20max 0.25max

11.5-17

0-2.5

0.15-120

PROPERTIES :

Despite the difficulties in swaging ,stainless steel has some merits as a denture base material : 1.Very thin denture base can be produced figures as low as as 0.11mm 2. The steel is fracture resistant. 3. Not heavy due to the thinness . 4.The corrosion resistance is good .

5. Good thermal conductivity.

Methods of swaging : 1.Conventional method 2.Newer methods : a. Explosion forming b. Explosion hydraulic forming

c. Hydraulic forming

Gold alloys

Gold alloys of types 3 and 4 are sufficiently rigid for use as a cast metal base. casting with gypsum bonded investments with a uniform thickness as thin as 28 gauge is easy.

TYPE %Au

%Cu

%Ag

%Pd

%Pt

%In,Sn,Fe,Zn,Ga

I II

83 77

6 7

10 14

0.5 1

Balance Balance

III IV

75 69

9 10

11 12.5

3.5 3.5

Balance Balance

Procedure for gold alloy cast base :

Wax block out of the master cast is done. Place the cast in a slurry water preheated to 38degrees C for 20 min. Duplicate the cast using a duplicating colloid. Dry the refractory cast ,then pour and trim the cast. Selection of he size of the plastic pattern us a clinical decision (18 gauge generally)

Add retention beads for the resin. Attach the sprues. Invest the cast. Burn out the wax. Induction casting may be used .

Metal Type

Yeild Strength (Mpa/Ksi) 710/103 690/100 470/68 703/102 493/71.5

Tensile Strength (Mpa/Ksi) 870/120 800/116 685/99 841/122 776/112

Elongation (%)

Hardness (HV)

Elastic Modulus (GPa/Ksi x 103 ) 224/32.4 182/26.4 198/28.7 202/29.3 90/13

Co- Cr (A ) Ni Cr (B) Co Cr Ni (c) Fe Cr ( D) Type IV Gold

1.6 3.8 8.0 9 7

432 300 264 309 264

CP Ti
Ti 6V- 4 Al

344/50
870/126

345/50
925/134

13
5

210
320

103/14.9
117/17

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1. WATANABE et al in 1997 tested the hypothesis that differences in pressure produce castings with various amounts of porosities values. This study suggested castings which have adequate mechanical properties and low porosities can be obtained by choosing an argon pressure difference.

Hamda et al in 1999 conducted a study with an objective to produce complete, void free castings of removable partial denture

frameworks made from commercially pure Ti.

The ball sprue design produced the most

complete castings for the removable partial

denture denture Ti frameworks.

Moore and White K.C. in 1986 described materials and technique for applying gingival color to aluminium when it is used as a denture

base.

They concluded that abrasion of anodized

surface may release dye inclusions.

Anthony De Furio and Daniel H. Gehl (1970) conducted a study to determine the amount of force required to dislodge maxillary dentures made from aluminium , gold and acrylic resin. He used a precision machine to measure the force necessary to dislodge a maxillary denture base from its basal seat. He concluded that the chrome cobalt and aluminium alloy bases gave retention values which were significantly higher than those obtained with the acrylic resins and gold alloy bases .

A study which was conducted in dept of prosthodontics by Dr.Gautam Shetty under the guidance of DR. N.P.PATIL in sdm dental college. The main objective of the study were : 1. To compare the fit of Al alloy (7010)denture base with acrylic denture base and base metal alloy denture base. 2. To study the effect of anodization electroplating on the resistance to corrosion. and

3. To compare the flexure strenght of aluminium alloy wih that of resin and base metal alloy .

RESULTS :

The results indicated the accuracy of fit of aluminium

was better than acrylic resin base metal alloy and superior than

Anodized Al showed better resistance to corrosion resistance than that electroplated and that without any

surface treatment.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The

dentist

should

possess

sufficient of different

knowledge of the properties

Prosthodontics materials they deal with ,so that

they can exercise prudent judgment in their

selection, which in turn will ensure treatment

efficacy and effectiveness.

REFERENCES

Anusavice Kenneith. J :Philips science of Dental materials .11th edition 2003 Atwood D.A : Final report on the clinical requirement of ideal denture base materials .JPD 1968,20 :101 Baraco M.T and Dember M.L:Cast Aluminium denture base,JPD 1987,58:179 Combe E.C : Notes on dental materials 6th edition 1992 Churchill Livingstone

REFERENCES

Craig R.G :Restorative dental materials 8th edition De Furio A. and Gehl. DH : Clinical study of the retention of maxillary complete denture with different DBM . JPD 1970 ,23:374 Faber B. L: Lower cast metal base JPD1957 51 :7 Grundwald A.H:Gold base lower denture ,JPD 1964, 14:432 Johnson W.W :The history of Prosthetic dentistry,JPD 1959,9:841 Lundquist Do :An Al alloy as a denture base, JPD 1963,13:102

Moore F.D :Organic or metal bases for dentures , JPD 1967,17:227 Morrow R.M RUDD K.D :Dental Lab procedures CD Vol 1 2nd edition Wang Russel .R : Titanium for complete denture application,Quintessence Int.1996,27:401 Winkler Sheldon : Esssentials Of Complete Denture Prosthodontics 2nd edition 2000