FLUXING
To prevent oxidation of gold alloys during melting always use a reducing flux .
Boric acid & borax are used .

Properties-improve with filler content

Physical

Radiopacity depends on ions in silicate glass or the addition of barium sulfate (many systems radiolucent)
Coefficient of thermal expansion is 35 to 45 ppm/C and decreases with increasing filler content
Thermal and electrical insulators

Chemical

Water absorption is 0.5 % to 2.5% and increases with polymer level)
Acidulated topical fluorides (e.g., APF) tend to dissolve glass particles, and thus composites should be protected with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) during those procedures
Color changes occur in resin matrix with time because of oxidation, which produces colored by-products

Mechanical

Compressive strength is 45,000 to 60,000 lb/ in2, which is adequate
Wear resistance-improves with higher filler content, higher percentage of conversion in curing, and use of microfiller, but it is not adequate for some posterior applications
Surfaces rough from wear retain plaque and stain more readily

Biologic

Components may be cytotoxic, but cured composite is biocompatible as restorative filling material

Dental Porcelain and PFM Porcelains

Applications/Use

a. Porcelain inlays and jacket crowns
b. PFM crowns and bridges
c. Denture teeth

Terms

PFM-porcelain fused to metal
Fusing-adherence of porcelain particles into a single porcelain mass

Classification

 Dental porcelain is manufactured as a powder. When it is heated to a very high temperature in a special oven, it fuses into a homogeneous mass. The heating process is called baking. Upon cooling, the mass is hard and dense. The material is made in a variety of shades to closely match most tooth colors. Baked porcelain has a translucency similar to that of dental enamel, so that porcelain crowns, pontics, and inlays of highly pleasing appearance can be made. Ingredients of porcelain include feldspar, kaolin, silica in the form of quartz, materials which act as fluxes to lower the fusion point, metallic oxide, and binders. Porcelains are classified into high-, medium-, and low-fusing groups, depending upon the temperature at which fusion takes place. 
 
High-Fusing Porcelains. High-fusing porcelains fuse at 2,400o Fahrenheit or over. They are used for the fabrication of full porcelain crowns (jacket crowns). 

Medium-Fusing Porcelains. Medium-fusing porcelains fuse between 2,000o and 2,400o Fahrenheit. They are used in the fabrication of inlays, crowns, facings, and pontics. A pontic is the portion of a fixed partial denture, which replaces a missing tooth. 

Low-Fusing Porcelains. Low-fusing porcelains fuse between 1,600o and 2,000o Fahrenheit. They are used primarily to correct or modify the contours of previously baked high- or medium-fusing porcelain restorations. Eg  for PFM restorations

Structure

Components

a. Large number of oxides but principally silicon oxide, aluminum oxide. and potassium oxide    
b. Oxides are supplied by mixing clay, feldspar, and quartz.

Manipulation

Porcelain powders mixed with water and compacted into position for firing
Shrinkage is 30% on firing because of fusing and so must be made oversized and built up by several firing steps

Properties

1. Physical

a. Excellent electrical and thermal insulation
b. Low coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction
c. Good color and translucency; excellent aesthetics

2. Chemical

a. Not resistant to acids (and can be dissolved by  contact with APF topical fluoride treatments)
b. Can be acid-etched with phosphoric acid or  hydrofluoric acid for providing microll1echanical retention for cements

3. Mechanical

a. Harder than tooth structure and ,will cause opponent wear
b. Can be polished with aluminum oxide pastes

Composition of Acrylic Resins.

·        Powder. The powder is composed of a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), peroxide initiator, and pigments

·        Liquid. The liquid is a monomethyl methacrylate (MMA), hydroquinone inhibitor, cross-linking agents, and chemical accelerators (N, N-dimethyl-p-toluidine)

Waxes

Many different waxes are used in dentistry. The composition, form, and color of each wax are designed to facilitate its use and to produce the best possible results.

Applications

o    Making impressions
o    Registering of tooth or soft tissue positions
o    Creating restorative patterns for lab fabrication
o    Aiding in laboratory procedures

Classification

a. Pattern waxes-inlay, casting, and baseplate waxes
b. Impression waxes-corrective and biteplate waxes
c. Processing waxes-boxing, utility, and sticky waxes

Types

1) Inlay wax-used to create a pattern for inlay, onlay or crown for subsequent investing and casting in a metal alloy.
2) Casting wax-used to create a pattern for metallic framework for a removable partial denture
3) Baseplate wax-used to establish the vertical dimension. plane of occlusion. and  initial arch form of a complete denture
4) Corrective impression wax-used to form a registry pattern of soft tissues on an impression
5) Bite registration wax-used to form a registry pattern for the occlusion of opposing models or casts
6) Boxing wax-used to form a box around an impression before pouring a  model or cast
7) Utility wax -soft pliable adhesive wax for modifying appliances, such as alginate impression trays
8) Sticky  wax-sticky when melted and used to temporarily adhere pieces of metal or resin in laboratory procedures

Components

a. Base waxes-hydrocarbon (paraffin) ester waxes    
b. Modifier waxes-carnauba, ceresin, bees wax, rosin, gum dammar, or microcrystalline waxes
c. Additives-colorants

Reaction-waxes are thermoplastic

Properties

Physical

a. High coefficients of thermal expansion and contraction
b. Insulators and so, cool unevenly; should be waxed in increments to allow heat dissipation

Chemical

a. Degrade prematurely if overheated
b. Designed to degrade into CO2and H2Oduring burnout

Mechanical-stiffness, hardness, and strength depend on modifier waxes used
 

Dental Implants

Applications/Use
 
Single-tooth implants
Abutments for bridges (freestanding, attached to natural teeth)
Abutments for over dentures

Terms

Subperiosteal- below the periosteum -but above the bone (second most frequently used types)
Intramucosal-within the mucosa
Endosseous into the bone  (80%of all current types)
Endodontics-through the root canal space and into the periapical bone
Transosteal-through the bone
Bone substitutes -replace. Long bone

Classification by geometric form

Blades
Root forms
Screws
Cylinders
Staples
Circumferential
Others

Classification by materials type

Metallic-titanium, stainless steel, and .chromium cobalt
Polymeric-PMMA
Ceramic hydroxyapatite, carbon, and sapphire

Classification by attachment design

Bioactive surface retention by osseointegration
Nonative porous surfaces for micromechanical retention by osseointegration
Nonactive, nonporous surface for ankylosis. By osseointegration 
Gross mechanical retention designs (e.g.. threads, screws, channels, or transverse holes)
Fibrointegration by formation of fibrous tissue capsule
Combinations of the above

Components

a. Root (for. osseointegration)
b. Neck (for epithelial attachment and percutancaus sealing)
c. Intramobile elements (for shock absorption)
d. Prosthesis (for dental form and function)

Manipulation

a. Selection-based on remaining bone architecture and dimensions
b. Sterilization-radiofrequency glow discharge leaves biomaterial surface uncontaminated and sterile; autoclaving or chemical sterilization is contraindicated for some designs

Properties

1. Physical-should have low thermal and electrical conductivity

2. Chemical

a. Should be resistant to electrochemical corrosion
b. Do not expose surfaces to acids (e.g.. APF fluorides).
c. Keep in mind the effects of adjunctive therapies (e.g., Peridex)

3. Mechanical
a. Should be abrasion resistant and have a high modulus
b. Do not abrade during scaling operations (e.g.with metal scalers or air-power abrasion systems like  Prophy iet)

4. Biologic-depend on osseointegration and epithelial attachment