CRUCIBLE FORMER

It serves as a base for the casting ring during investing .Usually convex in shape.
May be metal , plastic or rubber .
Shape depends on casting machine used .
Modern machines use tall crucible to enable the pattern to be positioned near the end of the casting machine .

Temporary Filling Materials

Applications / Use

While waiting for lab fabrication of cast restoration
While observing reaction of pulp tissues

Objectives

Provide pulpal protection
Provide medication to reduce pulpal inflammation
Maintain the tooth position with an aesthetic restoration

Classification

Temporary filling cements
Temporary filling resins

Components

Temporary filling cements

1. Zinc oxide-eugenol cement with cotton fibers added
2. Polyme r powder-reinforced zinc oxide eugenol cement

Temporary filling resins

•    MMA / PMMA filling materials
•    Polyamide filling materials
•    BIS-GMA filling materials
 

Glass Ionomer Cements

Applications

a. Class V restorations-resin-modified glass ionomers for geriatric dentistry
b. Class II restorations-resin-modified glass ionomers, metal-modified glass ionomers in pediatric dentistry
c. Class III restorations-resin-modified glass ionomers
d. permanent cementing of inlays, crowns, bridges, and/or orthodontic band/brackets. In addition, it can be used as a cavity liner and as a base.

Classification by composition

a. Glass ionomer-limited use
b. Metal-modified glass ionomer-limited use
c. Resin-modified glass ionomer-popular use

Components

a. Powder-aluminosilicate glass
b. Liquid-water solution of copolymers (or acrylic acid with maleic, tartaric, or itaconic acids) and water-soluble monomers (e.g., HEMA)

Reaction (may involve several reactions and stages of setting)

a. Glass ionomer reaction (acid-base reaction of polyacid and ions released from aluminosilicate glass particles)
- Calcium, aluminum, fluoride, and other ions released by outside of powder particle dissolving in acidic liquid
- Calcium ions initially cross-link acid functional copolymer molecules
- Calcium cross-links are replaced in 24 to 48 hours by aluminum ion cross-links, with increased hardening of system
- If there are no other reactants in the cement (e.g., resin modification), then protection from saliva is required during the first 24 hours

b. Polymerization reaction (polymerization of double bonds from water-soluble monomers and/or pendant groups on copolymer to form cross-linked matrix)
- Polymerization reaction can be initiated with chemical (self-curing) or light-curing steps
- Cross-linked polymer matrix ultimately interpenetrates glass ionomer matrix 

Manipulation

a. Mixing-powder and liquid components may be manually mixed or may be precapsulated for mechanical mixing
b. Placement-mixture is normally syringed into place
c. Finishing-can be immediate if system is resin-modified (but otherwise must be delayed 24 to 72 hours until aluminum ion replacement reaction is complete)
d. Sealing-sealer is applied to smoothen the surface (and to protect against moisture affecting the glass ionomer reaction)

Properties

1. Physical

-Good thermal and electrical insulation
-Better radiopacity than most composites
-Linear coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction is closer to tooth structure than for composites (but is less well matched for resin-modified systems)
-Aesthetics of resin-modified systems are competitive with composites

2. Chemical

-Reactive acid side groups of copolymer molecules may produce chemical bonding to tooth structure
-Fluoride ions are released
(1) Rapid release at first due to excess fluoride ions in matrix
(2) Slow release after 7  to 30 days because of slow diffusion of fluoride ions out of aluminosilicate particles

-Solubility resistance of resin-modified systems is close to that of composites

3. Mechanical properties

-Compressive strength of resin-modified systems is much better than that of traditional glass ionomers but not quite as strong as composites
- Glass ionomers are more brittle than composites

4. Biologic properties

- Ingredients are biologically kind to the pulp
- Fluoride ion release discourages secondary canes
 

CAD/CAM Restorations

Applications-inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, bridges, implants, and implant prostheses    

Stages of fabrication
 
CSD-computerized surface digitization
CAD-computer-aided (assisted) design
CAM-computer-aided (assisted) machining
CAE-computer-aided esthetics (currently theoretic)
CAF-computer-aided finishing or polishing (which are currently theoretic steps)

Classification

Chairside or in-office systems

(1) Cerec (Siemens system)-inlays, onlays, veneers
(2) Sopha (Duret system)-inlays, onlays  (and Crowns)

Laboratory systems

(1) DentiCAD (Rekow system)-inlay, onlays, veneers, crowns
(2) Cicero (Elephant system)-porcelain fused-to-metal crowns

 
Materials

a. Feldspathic oorcelains (Vita)
b. Machinable ceramics (Dicor MGC)
c. Metal alloys limited use)

Cementing

- Etching enamel and/or dentin for micromechanical retention
- Bonding agent for retention to etched surface
- Composite as a luting cement for reacting chemically with bonding agent and with silanated surface of restoration
- Silane for bonding to etched ceramic (or metal) restorations and to provide chemical reaction
- Hydrofluoric acid etching to create spaces for micromechanical retention on surface or restoration

Properties

1. Physical properties

a. Thermal expansion coefficient well matched to tooth structure
b. Good resistance to plaque adsorption or retention

2. Chemical properties-not resistant to acids and should be protected from APF

3. Mechanical properties

a. Excellent wear resistance (but may abrade opponent teeth)
b. Some wear of luting cements but self-limiting
c. Excellent toothbrush abrasion

4. Biologic properties-excellent properties
 

The Sprue :

Its a channel through which molten alloy can reach the mold in an invested ring after the wax has been eliminated. Role of a Sprue: Create a channel to allow the molten wax to escape from the mold. Enable the molten alloy to flow into the mold which was previously occupied by the wax pattern.

FUNCTIONS OF SPRUE

1 . Forms a mount for the wax pattern .
2 . Creates a channel for elimination of wax .
3 .Forms a channel for entry of molten metal
4 . Provides a reservoir of molten metal to compensate for the alloy shrinkage .

SELECTION OF SPRUE

Sprue former gauge selection is often empirical, is yet based on the following five general principles:
1.   Select the gauge sprue former with a diameter that is approximately the same size as the thickest area of the wax pattern. If the pattern is small, the sprue former must also be small because a large sprue former attached to a thin delicate pattern could cause distortion. However if the sprue former diameter is too small this area will solidify before the casting itself and localized shrinkage porosity may result.
2.   If possible the sprue former should be attached to the portion of the pattern with the largest cross-sectional area. It is best for the molten alloy to flow from the thick section to the surrounding thin areas. This design minimizes the risk of turbulence.
3.   The length of the sprue former should be long enough to properly position the pattern in the casting ring within 6mm of the trailing end and yet short enough so the molten alloy does not solidify before it fills the mold.
4.   The type of sprue former selected influences the burnout technique used. It is advisable to use a two-stage burnout technique whenever plastic sprue formers or patterns are involved to ensure complete carbon elimination, because plastic sprues soften at temperatures above the melting point of the inlay waxes.
5.   Patterns may be sprued directly or indirectly. For direct sprueing the sprue former provides the direct connection between the pattern area and the sprue base or crucible former area. With indirect spruing a connector or reservoir bar is positioned between the pattern and the crucible former. It is common to use indirect spruing for multiple stage units and fixed partial dentures.

Properties

I. Physical

a. Excellent thermal and electrical insulator
b. Very dense
c. Excellent dimensional stability
d. Good reproduction of fine detail of hard and soft tissues

2. Chemical

a. Heating will reverse the reaction (decompose the material into calcium sulfate hemihydrate, the original dry component)
b. Models, casts, and dies should be wet during grinding or cutting operations to prevent heating

3. Mechanical

a. Better powder packing and lower water contents at mixing lead to higher compressive strengths (plaster < stone < diestone)
b. Poor resistance to abrasion

4. Biologic

a. Materials are safe for contact with external - epithelial tissues
b. Masks should be worn during grinding or polishing operations that are likely to produce gypsum dust