Analysis of the Marginal Fit and Dimensional Stability of Cast-to Cobalt-Chromium Implant Cylinders Cast from Different Alloys.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) casting alloys' melting temperatures on the cast-to Co-Cr implant cylinders' marginal fit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Co-Cr alloys with different melting ranges were cast into 20 Co-Cr cylinders: 10 in a high-melting temperature (HMT) group and 10 in a low-melting temperature (LMT) group. Ten cylinders were used as received as a control group. Cylinders' marginal misfit and dimensional stability were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (×500).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: HMT cylinders showed significant differences in marginal misfit (2.48 ± 1.07 μm2 ) compared to LMT (1.53 ± 0.37 μm2 ) and control (1.27 ± 0.57 μm2 ) cylinders, but there were no differences in dimensional stability. HMT Co-Cr alloys produce implant-supported prostheses with poor marginal fit.