Dental materials

Metals (alloys) Non-metals

High-noble casting alloys Polymers
Ceramics
Noble casting alloys
Cements
Base metal alloys Amalgams
Impression materials
Gypsum
Waxes
Definition of metals

Metals are generally hard (solid),

opaque, lustrous materials which
conduct well heat and electricity.
 Chemical properties of
metals
Crystal structure
Atoms are arranged in a regular
three-dimensional lattice
Arrangements:
- simple, face-centred, body-
centred
- cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal
-orthorhombic
-monoclinic
-triclinic
 Physical properties of
metals

⚫ Conduct well heat and electricity

⚫ Lustrous in polished state

⚫ High strength

⚫ Well processesed with casting in

molten phase – metals can be mixed
together, producing alloys
Metals are the majority of elements
 Structure of metals and alloys

Macrostructure
-detectable with eyes or loupe
-surface defects, cracking, corrosion
Microstructure
-detectable with microscope
-texture of metals
Crystal structure
- six different crystal systems reveal
Macrostructure
 Microstructure

⚫ Homogeneous (single-phase)
– any parts of material are similar
physically or chemically.
⚫ Heterogeneous
(two-or multi phase)
– more phases can be separated
physically or chemically.
 Classification of metals
⚫ atomic weight, density
– light metals (Al 26.98, Ti 47.88)
– heavy metals (Au 196.9, Hg 200.59, W 183.85)
⚫ melting point
– low mp. (Al, Sn, Pb) < ~1000 C
– high mp. (W, Mo, Re, Pt, Pd) > ~1000 C
⚫ elasticity, hardness, strength, wear resistance
⚫ ductility, melleability, shrinkage
 Classification of metals

⚫ Tendence to corrosion
noble metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Ir, Os, Rh, Ru)
They do not become oxidize either in air, or in
liquid, or under heating process. Together with
Ag they are called precious metals.

base metals (Co, Cr, Ni, W, Mo, Cu, Pb, Sn,

Ga, Ti, etc…)
Metals alone are not used for dental material

Alloys
Example: Gold alloys. Gold is very soft metal, which cannot resist chewing forces.
Therefore it must be alloyed with copper or silver or platinum and other metals to develop the
hardness, durability and other essential properties. For many years the gold content of gold alloys
has been described on the basis of the carat. The term carat refers only the gold content of the
alloy and represents 1/24 part of the whole. Thus 24 carat indicates pure gold. The use of term
carat is less common now. It is more common to find the weight percentage of gold listed or to
have the alloy described in terms of fineness. The fineness also refers the gold content and
represents the number of parts of gold in each 1000 parts of alloy. Thus 24k gold is the same as
100% gold or 1000 fineness gold, and 18k gold would be designated as 750 fine.

To form an alloy, two or more metals or

nonmetals are heated to a homogeneous liquid
state.
Solid solution:
when two or more metals are completely miscible in the
liquid state and they remain completely mixed on
solidification (homogeneous). The copper and gold
combination crystallizes in such a manner that the atoms of
copper are scattered randomly through the crystal structure
of gold resulting a single-phase system.

Eutectic mixture:
when the metals are miscible in the liquid state but separate
into two phases in the solid state (heterogeneous). The two
phases usually precipitate as alternating very fine layers of
one phase over the other. An example of such a combination
is 72% Ag and 28%Cu, which is used as one of the
components in some dental amalgams. With this alloy the
eutectic is composed of fine, alternating layers of high-silver
and high-copper phases.
 Shaping of metals or
alloys
⚫ Cold working
Mechanical shaping of the metal at relatively low temperatures, taking
advantage of the high values of ductility and malleability possessed by
many metals (e.g. formation or bending of wires).
⚫ Amalgamation
Some alloys can be mixed with mercury to form a plastic mass which
gradually hardens by a chemical reaction followed by crystallization.
⚫ Casting
Casting involves heating the material until it becomes molten, when it
can be forced into an investment mould which has been prepared from
a wax pattern.
 Classification of dental alloys (ADA)
High-noble casting alloys
noble metal content > 60 wt% and gold content >40 wt%
1. Au-Ag-Pt alloys (gold content of >70 wt%)
2. Au-Cu-Ag-Pd I. (gold content of >70 wt%)
3. Au-Cu-Ag-Pd II. (gold content of ~50-65 wt%)

Noble casting alloys

noble metal content > 25 wt%, gold content < 40 wt%
1. Au-Cu-Ag-Pd III. (gold content of <40 wt%)
2. Au-Ag-Pd-In (gold content of <20 wt%)
3. Pd-Cu-Ga (gold content of <40 wt%)
4. Ag-Pd (silver content of 70%, palladium of 25%)

Base metal alloys

noble metal content < 25 wt%
1. cobalt-chromium Ni, Co >85%; chromium content < 30% (difficult to cast)
2. nickel-chromium cobalt increases elastic modulus, strength, hardness
3. stainless steel iron-carbon alloy that contains Cr and Ni (18/8)
4. CP titanium, Ti-Al-V, nickel-titanium, titanium-molybdenum
 ADA specification for
Dental Casting Gold Alloy
I. soft: (VHN 60- 90) one - or two-surface inlays
II. medium: (VHN 90- 120) MOD inlays, crowns
III. hard: (VHN 120- 150) bridges, fixed partial dentures
IV. extra hard: (VHN 150- 220) fixed or removable partial dentures
Concentration differences have a substancial effect on the physical and
mechanical properties consequently on the indication fields!
Special requirements for Metal-ceramic alloys
(Porcelain-fused-to-metal alloys, PFM)

⚫ Their coefficient of thermal expansion has to be equivalent

with which ceramics have.
⚫ Good casting precision with high yield strength that is able to
resists chewing forces.
⚫ Melting points must be higher than the firing temperature of
the porcelain.
⚫ Suitable surface characteristics (oxide coating by heat
treatment) for chemical bonding to dental porcelain.
Alloys intended for use as bases for porcelain have special requirements!
 Titanium and its alloys

Material of choice
in dentistry

Excelent biological behavior,

electrochemical and physical properties.
 General properties of
Titanium and its alloys

⚫ The 7. most frequent metal in the earth’s crust

⚫ Density: 4.51 g/cm3 (half the value of other base metals)
⚫ Melting point: 1672-1727 °C
⚫ Thermal conduction is similar to dental tissues
⚫ WHN: 80-105, similar to gold alloys type III, IV
⚫ High affinity to oxygen corrosion resistance
⚫ Low reaction with plasma proteins hypoallergenic
⚫ Dimorph crystal structure
⚫ Easily reacts with H, O, N, at high temperatures (>600 °C)

Without a well controlled vacuum, titanium surfaces will be contaminated,

reducing strength and ductility and promote cracking mechanism.
 Commercially pure (CP) titanium

Dymorph crystal lattice

At room temoerature cp Ti has -phase,
on heating an allotrpic phase
transformation occurs. At 833 C, a body
centered cubic, (ß) phase forms. ß-form
is stronger but more brittle than -phase.

 -HCP  -BCC
Hexagonal Close Body Centered
Packed Cubic

Commercially pure Ti is available in 4 grades, which vary according to the oxygen

(0.18 to 0.40) and iron (0.20 to 0.50) contents. These slight concentration
differences have a substancial effect on the physical and mechanical properties.
 Commercially pure (CP) titanium

High affinity to oxygen corosion resistance

Titanium is a highly reactive metal,

Szennyeződések exposure to air results in the rapid
formation of a dense passive oxide
TiO2
layer. This oxide layer is capable to
grow in time and this ability remains
Fém titán
also in the presence of biological
environment. The surface oxide,
which forms on the titanium, is of
prime importance to its favourable
biological properties. In air, the oxide
begins to form in nanoseconds (10-9 s)
and has reached 20-100 Å thickness by
1 second.
 Dental application of Ti and Ti alloys

Pure Ti crowns, partial dentures, dental implants

Ti-6Al-4V alloys structural elements for dental implants
TiNi alloys orthodontic wires, endodontic instruments
Ti-13Cu-4.5Ni crowns, partial dentures
Ti-Mo, Ti-30Pd, Ti-20Cu alloys are still in the experimental stages

Titanium readily reacts with gaseous elements in air at high temperatures

therefore prevention of metal from any contamination is required. Without a well
controlled vacuum, titanium surfaces will be contaminated, reducing strenght and
ductility and promote cracking mechanism. Becaue of the low density of titanium
it is difficult to cast in conventional, centrifugal-force casting machines. These
make casting procedure more difficult and more expensive. Advanced casting
technics, which combine centrifugal, vacuum, pressure and gravty in specially
designed furnaces. Thus casting process has been developed and now it is
available.
 Corrosion
Attack on a metal surface involving loss of
material, for example rusting of iron. Degradation
due to the chemical or electrochemical process.

Therefore dental casting alloys should have a low tendency to

corrode in the oral environment and resist any damaging attack.
 Types of corrosion
⚫ Dry corrosion
– Chemical reaction with environment
– Oxidaton, sulfurization, halogenisation

⚫ Wet corrosion (electrochemical)

– Dissolution of metal accompanied by development
of electric current
– Galvanic action (2 types of metals – electrolyte)
– This type of corrosion can be found in oral cavity
such as in electric cell
 Electrochemical corrosion

Direction of the dissolution between the two

metals depends on the electrode potentials.
The higher potential of a metal the more
stable. Electrons will migrate to the metal
that has more positive potential.
 Electrochemical corrosion

These phenomena can be observed

between different fillings or metal
restoration in opposing or adjacent teeth.
These fillings, in conjugation with saliva
or tissue fluids as electrolytes, make up
an cell. When two opposing fillings
contact each other, the cell is short-
circuited, and the more anodic restoration
may corrode.

Amalgam filling

Gold filling
 Electrochemical corrosion

These phenomena can be observed

between different fillings or metal 500 mV
restoration in opposing or adjacent teeth.
These fillings, in conjugation with saliva
or tissue fluids as electrolytes, make up
an cell. When two opposing fillings
contact each other, the cell is short-
circuited, and the more anodic restoration
may corrode.
 Electrochemical corrosion

⚫ Theoretically circuit may occur

in case of single filling, between
filling surface contacts saliva and
the inner part of the tooth
contains tissue fluid
– Tissue fluid has a higher (~7x)
Clˉ ion cc than in saliva
it has more negative potential
– Potential difference may develop.
 Importance of corrosion in
dentistry
Damages to health
-metal ions reach surrounding tissues resulting
local or systematic accumulation (metallosis)
-due to accumulation allergic or toxic reactions may
occur locally or generally, producing different
symptoms
Material consequences
-duration of filling or dentures is decreased
-loss in function and wearing
-esthetic disorders
 Dentist has to know!

⚫ Do not use different type of alloys in one mouth!

⚫ Should have effort to use more noble alloys!
⚫ Exact composition of used alloys has to be known.
(certificate of origin)
⚫ Allergic symptoms for metals has to be cleared up
in anamnesis.
⚫ To control whether dental technician comply with
prescriptions and directions about processing of
alloys.
Thanks for your attention!