Fitness accuracy and retentive forces of additive manufactured titanium clasp

Laboratory and clinical assessment of cast titanium dentures were reported, little is known about additive manufacturing (AM) frameworks. This study evaluated in vitro AM titanium alloy clasps for clinical use.

After scanning the stainless steel dies to simulate the first molar, an Akers clasp was designed by CAD. AM clasp specimens were manufactured using laser sintering and AM machines from CP titanium grade 2 (CPTi), Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64), and Ti-6Al-7Nb (Ti67) powders. As controls, cast titanium clasps were conventionally made with same three titanium alloys. After nondestructive inspection and surface element analysis, surface roughness, fitness accuracy, initial retentive forces, and changes in retentive forces were measured.

Although few porosities and little contamination of AM clasps were confirmed, the AM clasp arm and tip indicated slightly worse fitness accuracy as compared to cast clasps. The initial retentive forces of all titanium clasps showed appropriate retentive forces within the acceptable ranges, AM clasps tended to have lower decreases in retentive forces with up to 10,000 insertion/removal cycles as compared to those of the cast clasps.

AM titanium clasps would be acceptable for clinical use similar to that of cast titanium clasps.