Journal of Dental Medicine

This investigation was performed according to the widespread application of base metal alloys and few articles published about the marginal integrity of restorations fabricated by these metals.Three standard dies of a maxillary first premolar were prepared with a flat shoulder finish line in buccal aspect and chamfer in palatal. One of them left with no change. On the buccal aspect of the second and third dies 135?and 1607 bevel were added respectively Using dual wax technique, nine wax patterns were formed on each die and casting procedure of selected non precious alloy was performed by centrifugal method. Marginal gaps of each copping seated on dies were measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with X500 magnification. Measurements were done on three areas of marked dies on buccal aspect. Measurement son palatal aspect was done on marked midpalatal point as control.Results and statistical analysis showed no significant difference among marginal gaps in lingual aspect.But on the buccal aspect there were statistically significant differences among the groups (P<0.001). Flat shoulder had the best marginal integrity (mean 4 micron). Shoulder with 160' bevel had the most marginal gap (mean 26.5 micron) and shoulder with 1357 bevel was between two other groups (mean 15.7 micron).

Statement of Problem: Nowadays economical issues on high gold alloys have changed the practice of metal-ceramic restorations toward base-metal alloys. Minalux is one of the base-metal alloys produced in Iran. Marginal fitness is of high importance to be evaluated in dental alloys.
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to compare the marginal adaptation of two base-metal alloys, Minalux (Mavadkaran Co. Iran) and VeraBond2 (Aibadent Co. USA ) during firing cycles of porcelain.

 Materials and Methods: In an experimental study 24 standard brass dies, with 135° chamfer finishing line were fabricated by Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milling machine. The samples were randomly divided in two groups, A and B, 12 in each. Following wax-up, the samples were equally cast with two mentioned alloys. In each group, there were 4 controlled samples, which proceeded to firing cycle without veneering porcelain. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements of marginal gap from buccal and lingual aspects were performed after 4 stages of casting, degassing, porcelain application and glazing. The data were analyzed using Four-way ANOVA and multiple comparative test based on Tukey criteria.

 Results: The findings of this study revealed that there was no significant difference in the marginal gap of Minalux (31.10±7.8u.m) and VeraBond2 (30.27±6.96u.m) with confidence level at 0.95 (P=0.43). For both alloys the greatest gap was observed after degassing stage (P<0.05). Porcelain and porcelain veneering proximity caused significant changes in the marginal gap of Minalux castings (P<0.05), however, such changes did not occur in VeraBond2 (PO.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the marginal gaps of two base metal alloys, Minalux and VeraBond2, were proved to be identical and that of the Minalux alloy existed in the range of acceptable clinical application. It was also concluded that Minalux dental alloys could provide proper marginal adaptation.

Statement of Problem: In order to eliminate the esthetic problem of metal collar in porcelain fused to metal crowns various techniques, such as shoulder porcelain, have been suggested.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of repeated porcelain firing cycles on the marginal integrity of shoulder in porcelain fused to metal crowns, made of two kinds of alloys: noble and base-metal.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, four groups of ten brazen models (Die) were used. Metal crowns of groups A&B were made of a noble alloy and those of C&D of a base-metal alloy. Groups A&C had the shoulder width of 1mm and groups B&D had the shoulder width of 1.5mm. After degassing and opaqing, shoulder porcelain was completed in the area of shoulder. At this stage, the average vertical gap of margin was measured by a reflective microscope (400). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan tests.

Results: No simoltaneouse interaction between the type of alloy and the shoulder width was found (P=0.709). The type of alloy had a significant effect on marginal integrity (P=0.021) attributing the best marginal integrity of shoulder porcelain to base-metal alloys. Shoulder width played also a significant role on marginal integrity (P=0.00) indicating that the reduction of shoulder width would increase the marginal integrity.

Conclusion: According to these findings, the best marginal integrity of shoulder porcelain is achieved through shoulder width of 1mm along with base-metal alloys.

Statement of Problem: Because dental amalgam does not adhere to tooth structure, using adhesive cements in amalgam-bonded restorations have been increased.

Purpose: The goal of this in-vitro study was to compare the effects of three types of glass ionomer as adhesive liners as well as varnish liner in increasing fracture resistance of teeth restored with amalgam.

Materials and Methods: Seventy extracted human maxillary premolars were selected and MOD cavities were prepared on them excluding ten intact teeth as positive control group and ten cavity prepared teeth without restoration as negative control group. All the prepared teeth were then restored with spherical amalgam (gs.80) with one of the following liners silver alloy glass ionomer liner, conventional glass ionomer liner, varnish liner, resin-modified glass ionomer and resin-modified glass ionomer with delayed light curing. The teeth were stored in 37C distilled water for 7 days and were then loaded under compressive strength using an Instron testing machine. The force required to fracture teeth were recorded and the data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests.

Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in fracture resistance between restored and non-restored samples. Comparisons between groups attributed significant effects to resin-modified glass ionomer in increasing fracture resistance of amalgam restored teeth (P<0.05). In most specimens, one cusp was separated from tooth structure whereas amalgam remained bonded to the intact cusp. Conclusion: According to these findings, resin-modified glass ionomer put a statistically significant effect in fracture resistance of amalgam-restored teeth.

Statement of Problem: One of newly presented base metal alloys (Minalux) is produced according to VeraBond2 alloy (Ni- Cr base) composition. Several studies showed that, cytotoxicity of base metal alloys can be occurred due to corrosion and element release.

Purpose: This study evaluated the biocompatibility of these two base metal alloys in three steps: as cast, after polishing and after porcelain firing cycles. Release of Ni and Cr ions were measured to determine if there is any difference between these two alloys.

Materials and Methods: Samples of two base metal alloys were subjected to Neutral Red Assay, MTT Assay and Trypan Blue for biocompatibility tests. Fibroblast Balb/c 3T3 cells were used for cell culture. Samples were contacted directly with cells in 37ºc and 5% Co2 concentration for 72 hours. Teflon samples were used as negative control. ANOVA test was used to compare different groups of two alloys. In addition, the release of Ni and Cr ions in to saline solution was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: MTT and Trypan Blue didn’t show any significant difference between Minalux, VeraBond2 and Teflon. Neutral Red Assay showed no significant difference between these two base metal alloys but as cast group was higher in cytotoxicity in comparisons with polished and firing groups in both two alloys. Release of Cr ion was non detectable (Cr < 1 PPB) but Ni ion was measured and Ni release was significantly different in as cast groups (P=0.007) of two alloys.

Conclusion: There is no significant difference between cytotoxicity of two base metal alloys and polishing and firing can decrease cytotoxicity of both alloys.

Statement of Problem: One of the greatest problems in metal –ceramic restorations is debonding of porcelain from dental alloys. Production of dental alloys by Iranian companies necessitates the evaluation of physical and handling properties of these products.

Purpose: In this study the bond strength between porcelain and two types of base metal alloys, Supercast (with beryllium) and Minalux (without beryllium) was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 10 cylindric bars from each base metal alloy were prepared. The bars were degassed and porcelain was applied around them in a disc form (8 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness). The bond strength of porcelain to metal bars was tested with the shear strength test by Instron. Data were analyzed with student t-test and P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance.

Results: The mean failure load was 71.58±6.4 KgF for Supercast and 67.34±5.48 for Minalux alloy. The bond strength of Supercast and Minalux were 55.85±4.99 MPa and 52.54±4.27 MPa respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P0.001).

Conclusions: This study showed that nickel-chromium-beryllium alloy (Supercast) produced significantly better ceramometal bonding than nickel chromium alloy without beryllium (Minalux).

Background and Aim: The improvement of the physical and chemical properties of resins as well as great advances achieved in the field of chemical bonding of resin to metal has changed the trend of restorative treatments. Today the second generation of laboratory resins have an important role in the restoration of teeth. The clinical bond strength should be reliable in order to gain successful results. In this study the shear bond strength (SBS) between targis (a ceromer) and two alloys (noble and base metal) was studied and the effect of thermocycling on the bond investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, alloys samples were prepared according to the manufacturer. After sandblasting of bonding surfaces with 50µ AI2o3 Targis was bonded to the alloy using Targis I link. All of the samples were placed in 37°C water for a period of 24 hours. Then half of the samples were subjected to 1000 cycles of thermocycling at temperatures of 5°C and 55°C. Planear shear test was used to test the bond strength in the Instron machine with the speed rate of 0.5mm/min. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Two-way analysis of variance was used to compare the bond strength among the groups. T test was used to compare the alloys. The influence of thermocycling and alloy type on bond strength was studied using Mann Whitney test. P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance.

Result: The studied alloys did not differ significantly, when the samples were not thermocycled (P=0.136) but after thermocycling a significant difference was observed in SBS of resin to different alloys (P=000.1). Thermal stress and alloy type had significant interaction, with regard to shear bond strength (P=0.003). There was a significant difference in SBS before and after thermocycling in noble alloys (P=0.009), but this was not true in base metals (P=0.29). Maximum SBS (19.09 Mpa) belonged to Degubond 4, before thermocycling. Minimum SBS (8.21 Mpa) was seen in Degubond 4 after thermocycling.

Conclusion: The effect of thermocycling in reducing bond strength of resin to metal depends on the type of alloy. The noble metal studied is significantly affected by thermal tensions.

Background and Aim: Replacing fractured ceramometal restorations may be the best treatment option, but it is costly. Many different bonding systems are currently available to repair the fractured ceramometal restorations. This study compared the shear bond strength of composite to a base metal alloy using 4 bonding systems.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, fifty discs, casted in a Ni-Cr-Be base metal alloy (Silvercast, Fulldent),were ground with 120, 400 and 600 grit sandpaper and divided equally into 5 groups receiving 5 treatments for veneering. Conventional feldspathic porcelain (Ceramco2, Dentsply Ceramco) was applied on control group (PFM or group1) and the remaining metal discs were air- abraded for 15 seconds with 50 mm aluminum oxide at 45 psi and washed for 5 seconds under tap water.Then the specimens were dried by compressed air and the  groups were treated with one of the bonding systems as follows: All-Bond 2 (AB), Ceramic Primer (CP), Metal Primer II (MP) and Panavia F2 (PF). An opaque composite (Foundation opaque) followed by a hybrid composite (Gradia Direct) was placed on the treated metal surface and light cured separately. Specimens were stored in distilled water at 37⁰C and thermocycled prior to shear strength testing. Fractured specimens were evaluated under a stereomicroscope. Statistical analysis was performed with one way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. P<0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: Mean shear bond strengths of the groups in MPa were as follows: PFM group 38.6±2, All-Bond 2 17.06±2.85, Ceramic Primer 14.72±1.2, Metal Primer II 19.04±2.2 and Panavia F2 21.37±2.1. PFM group exhibited the highest mean shear bond strength and Ceramic Primer showed the lowest. Tukey's HSD test revealed the mean bond strength of the PFM group to be significantly higher than the other groups (P<0.001). The data for the PF group was significantly higher than AB and CP groups (P<0.05) and the shear bond strength of the MP group was higher than CP group, but was not significantly different from AB (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the most reliable treatment for fractured metal-ceramic restorations would be the replacement of the restoration. If this is not possible, adhesive resin cements containing filler and phosphate-based monomers (especially MDP) such as Panavia F2 could be recommended for bonding composite to base metal alloys.

Background and Aim: An important criterion for success assessment of implant-supported prostheses is marginal fit. Vertical and horizontal discrepancy can result in loosening of the prosthetic screw, crestal bone resorption, peri-implantitis and loss of osseointegration. Despite careful attention to waxing, investing, and casting, marginal discrepancies are inevitable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the marginal gap and overhang in three casting methods with two different alloys in ITI implants.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study 48 analog abutments were randomly divided into six groups as follows: 1) burn out cap + BegoStar, 2) impression cap + BegoStar, 3) conventional wax up + BegoStar, 4) burn out cap + Verabond2, 5) impression cap + Verabond2, 6) conventional wax up + Verabond2. Waxing was done in 0.7 mm thickness verified by a digital gauge and a putty index was made for all groups. Reamer was used for correction of the finish line after casting in all groups. Castings were seated on analog abutments and embedded in acrylic resin. Specimens were sectioned by isomet instrument and polished and cleaned by ultrasonic cleaner for 10 min. The marginal gap and overextended margins of castings were examined under a  Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (X200). The mean gap and margin overextension were calculated for each group. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis and Bonferroni post-hoc test with p<0.05 as the level of significance.

Results: No significant difference in gap size was observed among the three casting methods with two alloys (P=0.056). The marginal gap was not different in the studied casting methods (P=0.092). Gold alloy crowns showed lower marginal gaps compared to base metal alloy crowns (P<0.001). No significant difference in overhang size was observed among casting methods with two alloys (P=0.093). Base metal alloy crowns showed less overhang compared to gold alloy crowns (P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between overhang and use of impression cap in base metal alloys (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, vertical discrepancy of frameworks made with gold alloy were less than those made with base metal alloy. Base metal alloy demonstrated less overhang. Conventional wax up or using burn out caps produced less horizontal discrepancy.