STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The interest in using titanium to fabricate removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks has increased, but there are few studies to support its use. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare circumferential RPD clasps made of commercially pure titanium and identical clasps made of 2 different cobalt (Co)-chromium (Cr) alloys by testing insertion/removal and radiographically inspecting the casts for defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On refractory casts that represent a partially edentulous mandibular right hemi-arch segment, 36 frameworks were cast from commercially pure titanium (n = 12) and 2 Co-Cr alloys (n = 12 each) with identical prefabricated patterns and the manufacturer-designated investment and casting technique. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups, corresponding to .25-mm and .50-mm undercuts, respectively. No polishing procedures were performed to ensure uniformity. Only nodules and burs were carefully removed with tungsten burs under magnification when necessary. The specimens were radiographed and subjected to an insertion/removal test simulating 5 years of framework use. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey complementary test (P<.01) to compare the retentive forces of RPDs made with the different materials. The Student t test (P<.01) was used to compare the retentive forces of RPDs fabricated with the same alloy with different undercuts. RESULTS: A total of 20% of the titanium specimens demonstrated porosity, showing casting difficulties, and any defect detected on the clasps determined the sample replacement. For Co-Cr alloys, casting difficulties were not found. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey complementary test to compare materials for the same undercut. For the .25-mm undercut, no significant difference was found between Magnum and Rematitan alloys; they were both different from the Remanium alloy (P<.01). For the.50-mm undercut, no significant difference was found between Co-Cr alloys; they were both different from Rematitan alloy (P<.01). The Student t test used to compare the same alloys with different undercuts showed no significant difference between Remanium with .25-mm and .50-mm undercuts. For Magnum and Rematitan alloys, there was a significant difference between different undercuts (P=.01). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this simulation study, the results suggest that commercially pure titanium clasps maintained retention over a simulated 5-year period, with lower retention force than identical Co-Cr clasps.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The interest in using titanium to fabricate removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks has increased, but there are few studies to support its use. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare circumferential RPD clasps made of commercially pure titanium and identical clasps made of 2 different cobalt (Co)-chromium (Cr) alloys by testing insertion/removal and radiographically inspecting the casts for defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On refractory casts that represent a partially edentulous mandibular right hemi-arch segment, 36 frameworks were cast from commercially pure titanium (n = 12) and 2 Co-Cr alloys (n = 12 each) with identical prefabricated patterns and the manufacturer-designated investment and casting technique. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups, corresponding to .25-mm and .50-mm undercuts, respectively. No polishing procedures were performed to ensure uniformity. Only nodules and burs were carefully removed with tungsten burs under magnification when necessary. The specimens were radiographed and subjected to an insertion/removal test simulating 5 years of framework use. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey complementary test (P<.01) to compare the retentive forces of RPDs made with the different materials. The Student t test (P<.01) was used to compare the retentive forces of RPDs fabricated with the same alloy with different undercuts. RESULTS: A total of 20% of the titanium specimens demonstrated porosity, showing casting difficulties, and any defect detected on the clasps determined the sample replacement. For Co-Cr alloys, casting difficulties were not found. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey complementary test to compare materials for the same undercut. For the .25-mm undercut, no significant difference was found between Magnum and Rematitan alloys; they were both different from the Remanium alloy (P<.01). For the.50-mm undercut, no significant difference was found between Co-Cr alloys; they were both different from Rematitan alloy (P<.01). The Student t test used to compare the same alloys with different undercuts showed no significant difference between Remanium with .25-mm and .50-mm undercuts. For Magnum and Rematitan alloys, there was a significant difference between different undercuts (P=.01). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this simulation study, the results suggest that commercially pure titanium clasps maintained retention over a simulated 5-year period, with lower retention force than identical Co-Cr clasps.
Authors: Renata Cristina Silveira Rodrigues; Adriana Claudia Lapria Faria; Iara Augusta Orsi; Maria da Gloria Chiarello de Mattos; Ana Paula Macedo; Ricardo Faria Ribeiro Journal: J Appl Oral Sci Date: 2010 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.698