The effect of soldering, electrowelding, and cast-to procedures on the accuracy of fit of cast implant bars.

The effect of three different connecting procedures on the accuracy of fit of cast implant bars over their supporting abutments was investigated. Thirty Hader implant bars were waxed on a master cast over two abutment analogs and cast in a type IV gold alloy. The bars were sectioned and divided into three groups of ten implant bars according to the connecting procedure that was to be followed. Group 1 bars were connected by soldering, Group 2 bars were connected by electrowelding, and Group 3 bars were connected with the cast-to procedure. The accuracy of fit of each group of bars was measured at the gold cylinder-abutment interface in microns using a stereomicroscope. The use of the cast-to procedure resulted in a more accurate fit as compared with the soldering and the electrowelding techniques.