Effects of resistance form on attachment strength of resin-retained castings.

This study evaluated the effects of tooth preparation design on resistance to dislodgment of a resin-bonded fixed partial denture (RBFPD). The variations of tooth preparation tested included axial coverage, retentive grooves, and an occlusal rest. Patterns of the tooth preparation designs were prepared and cast in a base metal alloy. Retainer patterns were waxed to refractory casts of metal dies, cast, finished and then bonded to the dies. The complete assemblies were loaded to failure on an Instron mechanical testing machine, and analysis indicated that retainers with occlusal rests were the most resistant. Grooves provided no statistically significant increase in resistance to failure of the cement. Increased axial coverage did not increase resistance to dislodgment. Successful fixed partial dentures (FPDs) depend on cast retainers to resist displacement of the restoration during function. Introduction of resin-bonded restorations opened the possibility of FPDs with minimal reduction of abutments. Specific questions concerning long term success and tooth preparation designs were prominent concerns. The influence of resistance form on overall stability of a restoration was also of particular interest. Buonocore established the foundation for retention of composite resins to acid-pitted enamel. Rochette used this technology to bond perforated cast metal splints to periodontally compromised teeth. A mechanical interlock was created as composite resin engaged these perforations and sustained the cast splint to acid-etched enamel. Howe adapted this design for replacement of anterior teeth by adding porcelain to a metal ceramic framework and then bonding the framework to abutments without tooth preparations. The advantages of these procedures were their conservative nature, esthetics, and ease of rebonding after dislodgment. Livaditis and Thompson adapted the procedure proposed by Tanaka of corrosion-pitting the bonding surface of a base metal alloy. They increased the surface area to be bonded, eliminated the perforations to improve rigidity of the framework, and described tooth preparation modifications of the abutments. They suggested an occlusal rest, establishment of guide planes through axial reduction, and a proximal extension to the facial surface to resist lingual displacement. Simonson, et al., based their anterior tooth preparation design on the configuration suggested by Livaditis which included a slight chamfer finish line plus reduction of the lingual surface to provide a thicker metal framework. Barrack introduced an inlay type tooth preparation for the occlusal rest plus shallow vertical proximal grooves, and Meiers used grooves as an esthetic alternative to proximal extensions. Clinical studies and surveys have identified specific variables involved with success and failure, while in vitro studies have evaluated framework designs, bonding agents, and methods for pitting the metal surface. This study evaluated resistance of RBFPDs to dislodgment of different tooth preparation designs.

Pins, dowels, and other retentive devices in posterior teeth.

Devices used to increase retention of restorations to severely damaged posterior teeth are described, with an emphasis on pins and dowels. Advantages and disadvantages of different techniques and measures to help prevent and correct problems are presented.

Effect of luting media on the compressive strengths of two types of all-ceramic crown.

This study evaluated the effect of selected luting media on the compressive strength of two types of all-ceramic crown. Tooth preparation was standardized; each preparation had a shoulder width of approximately 1.2 mm, and all internal preparation angles were rounded. Hi-Ceram and Dicor all-ceramic crowns were fabricated and cemented into the preparations with zinc phosphate, glass-ionomer, or composite resin cement. Coronal compressive fracture strengths were determined, using a set of unrestored teeth as a control. There were no statistically significant differences among the mean compressive strengths of the three luting media, and there was no statistically significant difference between the mean compressive strength of Dicor and that of the natural tooth control.

A comparison of the abrasiveness of six ceramic surfaces and gold.

A type III gold alloy and six different ceramic surfaces were secured in an abrasion machine opposing extracted teeth to determine their relative abrasiveness and resistance to wear. The rankings of restorative materials from least abrasive to most abrasive were: gold alloy, polished; cast ceramic, polished; porcelain, polished; cast ceramic, polished and shaded; porcelain, polished and glazed; cast ceramic, cerammed skin shaded; and cast ceramic, cerammed skin unshaded. The ranking of materials from most wear-resistant to least wear-resistant was: gold alloy, cast ceramic cerammed, cast ceramic cerammed and shaded, porcelain polished, porcelain glazed, cast ceramic polished and shaded, and cast ceramic polished.

Wettability of elastomeric impression materials: effect of selected surfactants.

This study evaluated seven classes of 65 impression materials for the effect of selected surfactants on contact angle values for high-strength stone. Uniform surfaces of the materials were treated with a surfactant, and stone samples were poured on each impression material surface. The samples were sectioned and photographed for measurement of the advancing contact angles. Statistical analysis supported four conclusions: No significant difference was found between the two surfactants. Both surfactants were significantly better than the control (water). Polyether impression materials were superior in wettability to the other elastomeric impression materials tested. With respect to contact angle, two distinct groups of impression materials emerged. Reversible hydrocolloid (47.7 +/- 1.5), irreversible hydrocolloid (36.8 +/- 8.8), and polyether (45.8 +/- 7.6) formed a hydrophilic group. A hydrophobic group consisted of the polysulfide (62.6 +/- 10.1), poly(vinyl siloxane) (71.1 +/- 12.3), condensation-reaction silicone (74.1 +/- 11.0), and polyethene (75.9 +/- 14.6) materials.

Effect of abutment mobility, site, and angle of impact on retention of fixed partial dentures.

Fixed partial dentures cemented to dies of adjustable mobility were subjected to repeated impacts at three different sites. Immobile abutments retained their prostheses longer than mobile abutments. Impacts that fell between the centers of rotation of the abutments were withstood longer than impacts that fell nearer the ends of the prostheses. This study failed to show a significant difference between the effect of impacts perpendicular to the occlusal plane and impacts angled 45 degrees toward the lingual plane. The results of this study suggest that (1) crowns that anchor rigid prostheses to mobile teeth require greater retentive ability than crowns on relatively immobile abutments and (2) occlusal impacts are best withstood when they fall on the areas of the fixed partial denture over and between the centers of rotation of the abutment teeth. If a fixed partial denture must withstand loading outside these areas, as is the case with cantilevered pontics and some tilted abutments, the retainer furthermost from the anticipated eccentric load must have exceptionally good retention.

Preparation modifications for damaged vital posterior teeth.

The preservation of a severely damaged tooth with a cast restoration requires that the preparation be modified to make use of remaining tooth structure. Preexisting preparation features, such as boxes and isthmuses, and new ones, such as boxes, grooves, and pin holes, are employed to provide adequate retention and resistance. When destruction of coronal tooth structure exceeds one-half of the clinical crown, a pin-retained amalgam or composite resin core should be used to build up the tooth to receive a cast restoration.