Earticle

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a special heat treatment on Pd-Au-Ag metal-ceramic alloy after degassing treatment and on changes in the hardness of the alloy during the firing process. Methods: Specimen alloys were cast and subjected to degassing at 900℃ for 10 minutes. These specimens were then subjected to a special heat treatment at 600℃ for 15 minutes in a dental porcelain furnace. Further, the specimens were subjected to simulated firing in the porcelain furnace. The resulting specimens were then tested for hardness, and changes in the microstructure were observed. Results: There was a decrease in the hardness of the alloy during the simulated firing of the cast alloy due to the coarsening of the particles. Meanwhile, additional heat treatment after degassing was found to play a crucial role in preventing a decrease in hardness. This treatment effectively suppressed the coarsening of the precipitates during repeated firing at high temperatures. Conclusion: Specific heat treatment of the Pd-Au-Ag metal-ceramic alloy prevented a decrease in its hardness and extended the lifespan of the metal-ceramic prosthesis.

Purpose: The current study examined the retention and wear resistance of stud-type attachments made of high-performance polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) from the polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) family. Methods: The study sample included 10 PEEK or PEKK attachments that were mounted onto their male parts, designed on the upper aspect of the attachment, with a load of 30 N. Tensile stress was applied using an Instron machine to separate the male and female parts, and the maximum tensile stress to be applied was determined based on the retention force observed. The wear resistances of PEEK and PEKK were evaluated by measuring the inner diameter of the inserted female part 10 times. Results: The maximum tensile stresses of PEEK and PEKK were 56.26±0.58 and 69.12±0.92 N, respectively, with the maximum stress required to remove the PEKK specimens from the abutment being 12.86 N higher than that required to remove the PEEK specimens. Furthermore, PEKK exhibited higher wear resistance than PEEK. Conclusion: This study evaluated custom-made removable implant-retained attachment components for overdentures, wherein the female parts were made of PEEK or PEKK. The retention stress and wear resistance were evaluated based on the type of attachment material, and the results showed that both types of attachment inserts demonstrated clinically acceptable results in terms of retention.

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the clinical acceptability of precision of fit of the support thickness of Co-Cr alloy copings fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM). Methods: Thirty dental stone models of maxillary left molar abutments were manufactured, images were taken using a scanner, and a computer-aided design program was used to design the form of a conventional metal ceramic crown coping. Overall, 30 single copings were made from Co-Cr alloy using SLM and divided into three support radius groups (0.1, 0.25, and 0.35 mm) of 10 for each. Digitized data were superimposed with three-dimensional inspection software to quantitatively obtain the machinability of a ceramic crown coping, and visual differences were confirmed using a color map. The root mean square values of the ceramic crown coping group were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results: The precision of fit was superior with 0.25 mm compared with 0.1 mm and 0.35 mm, and the results exhibited significant differences (p<0.05). All specimens showed that various support thicknesses did not exceed the clinically permitted value of 120 μm, which mean that more than 0.1 mm and 0.35 mm of support radius for SLM was adequate. Conclusion: The support thickness of Co-Cr alloy restoration fabricated using SLM is shown to affect the adaptation.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the fit of the anterior and posterior teeth printed using two light-curing three-dimensional (3D) printers. Methods: Anterior and posterior single crowns were designed using dental software and were printed using 2 types of 3D printers, liquid crystal display (LCD) and digital light processing (DLP) (n=40). After the printed crown was scanned again from inside and outside, the prepared teeth were evaluated using a 3D program. To compare the root mean square (RMS) results among groups (α=0.05), the one-way analysis of variance and Tukey‘s test were used. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the mean RMS values of the anterior and posterior teeth (p>0.05). However, as a result of comparing the internal, external, and tooth shapes, the DLP group showed significantly low errors in the inner and outer surfaces than LCD group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In terms of clinical acceptance standard of 100 μm, the fit of the anterior and posterior teeth fabricated using LCD and DLP was clinically acceptable.

Purpose: This study aimed to observe the effect of laminate veneer on patient’s teeth based on the manufacturing of laminate veneer restorations, which are produced by fabricating a ceramic cast body using IPS Empress, a pressure casting method and then forming the veneer by layering. Subsequently, we assessed the potential of its clinical application. Methods: This study discusses and preserves various treatment plans, such as diagnostic wax-up and treatment room diagnosis, for patients who visit the hospital to improve the appearance of teeth due to diastema of maxillary teeth, inexperienced resin filling, lack of esthetics, and external teeth. A ceramic cast body is constructed using IPS Empress, which is an effective and aesthetic restoration pressure casting method to restore the veneer with a laminate made by layering. Results: Compared with the preoperative state, the frontal view of the patient after the final restoration showed the formation of a natural smile line; the space between the central and lateral incisors was filled in synchronously with the adjacent teeth. In addition, the emergence profile is maintained by reducing the over-contour as much as possible. Conclusion: The patient’s quality of life is improved by providing them with a satisfactory natural smile.