The performance of base metal ceramic alloy restorations with reference to variances in thickness in metal and porcelain in order to establish optimal thickness ratios to maxize strength and aesthetic characteristics

Abstract

The greatest problem in maximizing strength and aesthetic characteristics of metal ceramic restorations arises when there is a lack of available space to allow sufficient thickness of metal alloy and porcelain. This generally results in the metal alloy being reduced to its minimum to allow adequate porcelain thickness. The minimum thickness to which noble metal alloys can safely be reduced, is generally accepted to be 0.3 mm due to previous clinical time-dependent trial and error. Agreement regarding the minimum thickness to which base metal alloys can safely be reduced is still under dispute possibly because base metal alloys have not had the same duration of clinical exposure. The objectives of the present study were: 1. To determine the influence thickness variations of the base metal alloy would have on strength characteristics of metal ceramic restorations and thereby establishing the minimum thickness to which base metal alloys can safely be reduced. 2. To determine the influence thickness variations of porcelain would have on strength and aesthetic characteristics of metal ceramic restorations and thereby establish the minimum thickness to which the porcelain thickness can safely be reduced. 3. To determine which base metal alloy to porcelain thickness ratios would be most suited in order to maximize strength and aesthetic characteristics in metal ceramic restorations where the amounts of available space for the alloy and porcelain are varied. For objective (1) Tensile strength tests to determine and compare the ability of various alloy thickness to resist porcelain fracture were performed in Newtons. For objective (2) Tensile tests to determine and compare the ability of various porcelain thickness to resist porcelain fracture were performed in Newtons.