[Is titanium an alternative for base metal alloys?]

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Titanium exhibits excellent biocompatibility, making it a suitable material for prosthetic reconstructions.
• Titanium alloys present a cost-effective alternative to noble metal alloys in dentistry.
• Challenges in processing titanium hinder its widespread adoption in dental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate processing techniques for titanium in prosthetic dentistry.
• To evaluate the accuracy of fit for titanium prosthetic restorations.
• To identify and analyze issues related to titanium processing and its impact on dental applications.

Main Methods:

• Description and investigation of a vacuum pressure casting system.
• Evaluation of a combined milling and spark erosion technique.
• Assessment of the superficial reaction zone in titanium castings.

Main Results:

• Both vacuum pressure casting and milling/spark erosion are suitable for manufacturing highly accurate titanium prosthetic restorations.
• A superficial reaction zone of 40-100 microns width was consistently observed.
• Inconclusive results from mechanical bonding tests prevent definitive conclusions on metal-ceramic compound performance.

Conclusions:

• Titanium processing techniques like vacuum casting and milling/spark erosion yield accurate prosthetic restorations.
• The presence of a superficial reaction zone and inconclusive bonding test results currently limit titanium's use in metal-ceramic dental applications.
• The future significance of titanium in prosthetic dentistry remains uncertain due to unresolved processing and bonding challenges.