Fixed assignment
Short span maxillary posterior metal/ceramic FPD. The FPD will be constructed from PFM with
nickel chrome core. Abutments are short providing minimal retention
1- Design of core
Search for short abutments effect on core design + put explanation diagram
For adequate strength and rigidity thickness should be 0.3mm since the base metals
have high fusing temp modulus of elasticity yield strength
Should allow even layer thickness of the veneering ceramic
Elimination of sharp line angles or pits
Convex surfaces and rounded contours created to support the porcelain without stress
conc
2- Important aspects of die prep including ditching parameters and spacer criteria (thickness
and location)
Using an acrylic bur finish stone, make a concavity around the die 1mm away from
finish line. Use a scalpel to finish the 1mm
Using a red pencil mark the finish line all around. Don’t use a graphite pen as the lead
and graphite it contains could be incorporated in the metal restoration. After using the
scalpel mark the finish line again.
Ditching controls the emergence profile; the ditching concavity should be shallow,
not too shallow or too deep. If too shallow, thin restoration so lab technician will over
contour it to compensate the thickness. If too deep, too bulky restoration and
embrasure formation since beyond contact area search in abyad notes
Sometimes the lab technician will remove some of the finish line leading to open
margins or negative ledge
Die spacer: the spacer creates space for the cement. It should be 30 microns thick. It
could be a single coat of nail polish. It is applied 1mm occlusal to the finish line, the
1mm is left in order to prevent microleakage. In this case, since we have minimal
retention, it is better to leave 2-3mm without die spacer. This is to ensure perfect
seating at the area near the finish line and to increase the cement.
3- Sprue design size and location
The sprue is a channel through which molten alloy can reach the mold in an invested
ring after the wax has been eliminated.
Must allow the molten wax to escape from the mold and flow easily in the mold
The metal within it must remain molten slightly longer than the alloy that has filled
the mold. So as the metal solidifies and shrinls in the mold, it will take from the
molten metal in the channel.
The sprue former should be made of wax since it will melt easily with the wax pattern
and thus we will have easier exit of wax from the mold
The sprue former should have a reservoir which will compensate for the shrinkage
that will occur during solidification of the casting.
Large diameter is required to improve the flow of the molten metal into the mold
For molars it should be 2.5mm (10 gauge) sprue. For premolars 2mm (12 gauge)
sprue.
Location: the sprue should be attached to the bulkiest (if thin this will effect the flow
of the molten metal as it will become less which will cause solidification and so the
crown wont be filled with metal) noncritical part of the pattern; away from the
margins and away from the occlusal contacts of the functional cusps. The largest
nonfunctional cusp is used; attach the sprue at the cusp tip but not at the triangular
ridge or at the mesial and distal slopes of the cusp.
The sprue former is attached at an angle of 45 degrees to allow the metal to flow
easily to all portions of the mold, otherwise if not, it may lead to improper flow of the
molten metal (back track of the metal) to all the mold space or may cause mold
erosion
Length: idealy should be 6mm. if more the molten metal will take longer time to
reach the mold space and therefore it will solidify. Not less since we need the liquid
metal to compensate for the solidification shrinkage.
In multiple units; the sprue will be composed of three parts: the feeder sprue which is
connected to the horizontal runner bar which will enable the delivery of the molten
metal to all casting regions. Extending from the horizontal runner bar we have the
manifolds which will vary in number according to the number of units in the FPD.
4- Type of investment material used and how to achieve proper expansion
Use phosphate bonded investment material: they withstand temps higher than 650
degrees and adequate expansion can be obtained especially with hygroscopic
expansion.
Base metal alloys will shrink by 2.4% upon solidification. So in order to compensate
for the shrinkage, the mold should be larger than the original wax pattern. This can be
achieved by :
Hygroscopic expansion: which occurs when water is added to the setting investment
material after the ring has been filled by submerging the ring in water bath at 37%
and by soaking the ring liner in water before pouring the investment. Expansion in
this method is 1.2-2.2%.
Thermal expansion: when investment is heated in the burnout oven to eliminate the
wax. Increased temp will increase expansion (in case of base metal alloys).
References: