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Passive fit of implant-retained prosthetic superstructures improved by electric discharge machining
1US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.
Purpose:
An absolutely passive fit at the interface with the superstructure and the abutment cylinders is needed for implant longevity. In this study, a method of cast framework correction using electric discharge machining (EDM) was evaluated.
Materials And Methods:
An original research model incorporating strain gages was devised to measure the fit of implant superstructures in three dimensions as cast and to compare this relationship with the fit following framework machining with EDM.
Results:
Visually, the fit of the frameworks was excellent, and the results of ANOVA demonstrated that the mean fit of the frameworks significantly improved (P > .04) after machining with EDM.
Conclusions:
The EDM process offers a rapid, accurate, and simple technique to correct for casting inaccuracies in the fabrication of hybrid implant prostheses.