Implant/abutment vertical misfit of one-piece cast frameworks made with different materials

Abstract

This study compared vertical and passive fit of one-piece cast frameworks made with 3 different materials: commercially pure titanium (CP Ti - G1), cobalt-chromium alloy (Co-Cr - G2) and nickel-chromium-titanium alloy (Ni-Cr-Ti - G3). Fifteen frameworks were obtained simulating bars for fixed prosthesis in a model with 5 implants. The passive and vertical fit of the framework interface was measured using an optical microscope at ×30 magnification. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and LSD tests (α=0.05). Mean and standard deviation values for passive fit and vertical fit were, respectively: G1 [472.49 (109.88) µm and 29.9 (13.24) µm], G2 [584.84 (120.20) µm and 27.05 (10.30) µm], and G3 [462.70 (179.18) µm and 24.95 (11.14) µm]. For vertical fit, there were no significant differences among G1, G2 and G3 (p=0.285). There were no significant differences for passive fit between G1 and G3 (p=0.844), but both differed significantly from G2 (p=0.028 and p=0.035, respectively), which showed the highest misfit values. It may be concluded that the vertical fit of frameworks was not affected by the tested materials, and that one-piece cast frameworks resulted in inadequate passive fit. The Co-Cr alloy presented the worst values for passive fit.