J Korean Acad Prosthodont.  1998 Dec;36(6):858-866.

FLEXURE STRENGTH OF CAST-JOINED CONNECTOR WITH Ni-Cr-Be ALLOY

• Jeong CM
• Jeon YC
• Lim JS

Abstract

Soldering is the usual method used to correct an unstable fixed partial denture framework at patient's try-in; However, presoldering base metal alloys is technique-sensitve and results are unstable because it is difficult to maintain uniform heat distribution and to prevent oxidation of an alloy. A cast-joining technique has been developed by Weiss and Munyon for repair, correction and addition to base metal framework. This joining technique eliminates the problem with presoldering of non-precious frameworks. The object of this study was to 1) compare the relative flexure strength and the joining effectiveness of Ni-Cr-Be cast in two pieces and "pre-soldered" versus in two pieces and "cast-joined", 2) determine the effect of increasing the number of retentive grooves on the face of the cast and 3) determine the effect of the relative matched position of groove patterns on flexure strength. The joining effectiveness can be expressed by the ratio of the mean flexure stress of soldered or cast-joined specimens to that of one-piece cast. Resin rods 3mm in diameter were used as pattern of specimens for one-piece casted, presoldered, and cast-joined groups. Cast-joined specimens had two different patterns of retentive grooves on the joined faces. Type A had cross-shaped grooves 1mm in depth, 0.6mm in width. Type B was the same except for the addition of one more retentive groove. In the experiment connecting cast-joined specimens, half of specimens with type A pattern had their patterns on the faces of paired casts matched with each other as mirror image. With the rest pairs, it was proceeded that one of paired casts turned 45 degrees so that the patterns crossed. Half of specimens with type B pattern also had the patterns matched as mirror image; However, here, one of paired casts turned 90 degrees with the other pairs. Retentive groove in this study lacked the intentional undercuts, in contrast with the suggestion of Weiss and Munyon. The specimens were subjected to four-point flexural loading in an Instron testing machine. The midspan flexural stress was calculated at the point of initial plastic strain as determined from a strip-chart recorder or at the point of failure if this occured at a lower stress level. Within the scope of this study, the following results were obtained. 1. The presoldered group showed flexural strength at least 2 times higher than the cast-joined groups. Its joining effectiveness was 82%. 2. In cast-joined groups, the flexural strength of joints with type B patterns exhibited 1.5 times that of joints with type A patterns. Joining effectivenesses were 38% for type B patterns, 25-26% for type A patterns. 3. The relative matched position of groove patterns did not have any significant effect on flexural strength of the cast-joined specimens with either type A patterns or type B patterns(p>.05).

MeSH Terms

Alloys*
Denture, Partial, Fixed
Hot Temperature
Joints
Plastics
Alloys
Plastics