Influence of marginal bone resorption on stress around an implant--a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Average marginal bone resorption of about 1 mm after the first year of functional loading, which is followed by an annual loss of approximately 0.1 mm, has been reported in stable implants. However, finite element analyses on bone stress around implants have been limited to analysing the bone stress in the absence of any bone resorption. Thus, a three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed to compare the bone stresses in a non-resorption model with those in four models with bone resorption of two depths (1.3 and 2.6 mm) and types (horizontal resorption and angular defects). Axial and bucco-lingual forces were separately applied to the center of the superstructure and the maximum equivalent stress was calculated. The main tendencies of bone stress (highest stress concentration around implant neck, higher stresses under bucco-lingual than axial load, as well as in the cortical than cancellous bone) were the same in the non-resorption and resorption models. Bone stress distributions were similar in the non-resorption and horizontal resorption models, but differed from those in the angular defect models. Moreover, the changes of the bone stress values with resorption depth differed for the two resorption types. Thus, in FEA, accurate simulation of the marginal bone shape in the implant neck region is advisable.

Casting behavior of titanium alloys in a centrifugal casting machine.

Since dental casting requires replication of complex shapes with great accuracy, this study examined how well some commercial titanium alloys and experimental titanium-copper alloys filled a mold cavity. The metals examined were three types of commercial dental titanium [commercially pure titanium (hereinafter noted as CP-Ti), Ti-6Al-4V (T64) and Ti-6Al-7Nb (T67)], and experimental titanium-copper alloys [3%, 5% and 10% Cu (mass %)]. The volume percentage filling the cavity was evaluated in castings prepared in a very thin perforated sheet pattern and cast in a centrifugal casting machine. The flow behavior of the molten metal was also examined using a so-called "tracer element technique." The amounts of CP-Ti and all the Ti-Cu alloys filling the cavity were similar; less T64 and T67 filled the cavity. However, the Ti-Cu alloys failed to reach the end of the cavities due to a lower fluidity compared to the other metals. A mold prepared with specially designed perforated sheets was effective at differentiating the flow behavior of the metals tested. The present technique also revealed that the more viscous Ti-Cu alloys with a wide freezing range failed to sequentially flow to the end of the cavity.

Stable operation of a 300-m laser interferometer with sufficient sensitivity to detect gravitational-wave events within our galaxy.

TAMA300, an interferometric gravitational-wave detector with 300-m baseline length, has been developed and operated with sufficient sensitivity to detect gravitational-wave events within our galaxy and sufficient stability for observations; the interferometer was operated for over 10 hours stably and continuously. With a strain-equivalent noise level of h approximately 5x10(-21)/sqrt[Hz], a signal-to-noise ratio of 30 is expected for gravitational waves generated by a coalescence of 1.4M-1.4M binary neutron stars at 10 kpc distance. We evaluated the stability of the detector sensitivity with a 2-week data-taking run, collecting 160 hours of data to be analyzed in the search for gravitational waves.

New method for quantitative mapping of metallic elements in tissue sections by electron probe microanalyser with wavelength dispersive spectrometers.

In this paper, we have proposed a new method that gives quantitative distributions of metallic elements in a tissue section by electron probe microanalyser equipped with wavelength dispersive spectrometers. Its principal merit is the clear expression of element distribution with micrometer resolution in typically prepared section samples for routine histopathological diagnosis. By analysing thin standard films containing metallic atoms of interest, it was confirmed that the detection limit is about 1 x 10(6) atoms microm-2. This value corresponds to 100 microg g(-1) (dry weight) in case of tissue section of 2 microm thickness. Furthermore, for copper, iron and aluminium, the exact linear relationship between the amount of metallic atoms and the characteristic X-ray intensity was established in the range up to 15 x 10(6) atoms microm(-2). The element maps of tissue sections from patients with Wilson's disease proved that the copper levels in analysed areas were not homogeneous and indicated abnormal accumulation in some portions. These results confirmed the usefulness of this method for histopathological diagnosis.

Long-term changes of hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants.

There are many controversies about the long-term prognosis of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implants. Failure may be related to compositional and structural changes of the coating occurring during implantation. Two retrieved and two unused HA-coated blade-type implants were examined by stereomicroscopy, secondary electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis. The objective was to investigate the HA morphology, composition, and structure, and to characterize the changes that occurred in the retrieved implant coatings. Retrieved implants presented partial loss of the coating, especially at the apical and mesiodistal edges. Remaining HA was thick and flattened in the cervical and central areas and gradually thinner and rougher towards the apical and mesiodistal edges. Increase of Cl and Mg, decrease of OH, and X-ray diffraction peak broadening were found in the retrieved implant coatings, in comparison with the unused implants. Morphological changes of the retrieved implants seem to depend on stress values in the surrounding bone and on implant mobility. Compositional changes and increased amount of lattice imperfections appeared in the retrieved implant coatings, as a result of ion substitutions in the apatite lattice. However, the present study could not confirm the influence of these changes on implant failure.

New partition technique for two-chamber pressure casting unit for titanium.

Although titanium has been widely used in prosthetic appliances, such as cast removable partial denture frameworks, high quality castings are still difficult to obtain. This study proposes a new partition technique using a metal foil for improving castability of a two-chamber pressure casting unit. The metal foil was formed beforehand to bring it in contact with the mold crucible wall so that no clearance was left behind it. Using this formed foil, the mold cavity can be completely isolated from the upper chamber and can be maintained in a vacuum even after the rupture of the foil. Accordingly, a large casting force is generated very quickly, and as a result, castability is expected to be significantly improved. This expectation was confirmed by the experiments using wax patterns including thin plate and mesh plate.

Surface composition and structure of titanium polished with aqueous slurry of ferric oxide.

Cast plates were prepared from commercial titanium. The plates were polished with a slurry of fine ferric oxide powder. The surface composition and structure were investigated by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the high pressure-polished surface, iron was non-uniformly distributed but oxygen was mostly uniformly distributed, while in a light pressure-polished surface, iron and oxygen were uniformly distributed though at lower and higher concentrations, respectively. EPMA state analysis and XPS suggested that the iron might exist as Fe2+ in the outermost surface, while it might be in a metallic state in the inner surface layer.

Influence of prosthesis material on stress distribution in bone and implant: a 3-dimensional finite element analysis.

A 3-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted to assess stress distribution in bone, implant, and abutment when gold alloy, porcelain, or resin (acrylic or composite) was used for a 3-unit prosthesis. A unit force was applied axially and then buccolingually to the center of the pontic. For gold and porcelain, similar maximum equivalent stress was found in each part of the models. In almost all cases, stress in the model with the resin prostheses was similar to or higher than that in the models with the other 2 prosthesis materials. The highest increase in stress with the resins was found in the implant-abutment unit under axial load. The protective role of resin for the implant-bone interface could not be demonstrated under the conditions of this analysis.

Influence of restoration type on stress distribution in bone around implants: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

The three-dimensional finite element analysis method was used to assess stress in bone around titanium implants using three treatment designs for a partially edentulous mandible, under axial (AX), buccolingual (BL), or mesiodistal (MD) loads. For each of these loads, highest stress was calculated in the model with a cantilever prosthesis supported by two implants (M2). Less stress was found in the model with a conventional fixed partial denture on two implants (M3), and lowest stress was calculated in the model with three connected crowns supported by three implants (M1). When BL load was applied to M3, cortical bone stress was high, comparable to that calculated for M2 under the same load. When AX or MD load was applied to M3, the cortical bone stress was low, similar to that found in M1 under each of these loads.

Possible segregation caused by centrifugal titanium casting.

The possibility of the segregation under solidification process using a centrifugal casting machine was investigated using an electron probe microanalyzer with elemental distribution map, line analysis and quantitative analysis. When a very small quantity of platinum was added to local molten titanium during the casting process, macroscopic segregation was observed under conditions of density difference of 0.1 g/cm3 at the most, confirming that the centrifugal force of the casting machine is extremely strong. When a Ti-6Al-4V alloy was cast, however, no macroscopic segregation was observed. The centrifugal force of the casting machine examined in the present study hardly results in the body-force segregation in this titanium alloy.

Surface contamination of titanium by abrading treatment.

This study investigated the contamination of abraded Ti surfaces. Using a polishing machine, specimens were abraded with waterproof SiC grit papers under water cooling. The abraded surfaces were examined using element analysis, X-ray diffraction, and hardness tests. Contaminant deposits with dimensions reaching about 30 microns were observed throughout the surface. In these deposits, Ti was apparently reduced by about 10% and replaced by Si and O. The chemical bond state of the Si was similar to that of SiC or a titanium silicide. The O was solute in Ti, which increased the surface hardness. The contaminant deposits were amorphous or very thin. The contamination of Ti, the extent of which was related to hardness, resulted from a reaction with abrasives.

Retention and failure mode after cyclic loading in two post and core systems.

Retention of a prefabricated post and composite resin core system was compared with that of a cast post and core restoration in anterior maxillary teeth on which root canal preparations, enlarged in the coronal part, were performed. The effect of cyclic loading on restoration retention was also investigated. Retention of restorations not subjected to cyclic loading was not influenced by post type, but loaded prefabricated post restorations showed lower retention than both loaded cast post and core restorations and nonloaded prefabricated post restorations. After dislodgement, the failure mode was also determined. The results of this study suggest that if a canal requires extensive preparation, a well-adapted cast post and core restoration may be more retentive than a prefabricated post restoration that does not match the canal shape.

In search of a suitable denture marker.

The ID-Band (SDI AB, Sweden) has become the standard, internationally and FDI accepted denture marking system. In Australia however the strip is not easily obtainable and is expensive. Two other materials have been trialled as possible alternatives: (1) Titanium foil (9 microns) and (2) Ho Band (matrix) (3 microns) (Lorvic Corp, USA). All three bands were tested for tensile strength and elongation at temperatures: RT, 700 degrees and 900 degrees C. As the ID- and Ho Bands are both 18-8 stainless steel their performance was similar. The 18-8 was stronger, had a higher percentage break point and a higher elongation. The latter meant that it was softer and could be more easily inscribed and was therefore more suitable for denture marking. T1 is becoming increasingly used in dentistry but in spite of its abundance it is not likely to replace stainless steel for denture marking at present. On the other hand the Ho Band is cheaper, more readily available and it could replace ID-Band for use in Australia. An alternative paper based marking system is also presented together with the rationale for its use.

Skin holes of titanium casting.

The present study describes refractories which contribute to formation of skin holes of Ti casting. Plates consisting of quartz (Qu) and cristobalite (Cr) powders and Qu- and Cr-MgO mixtures were fired at high temperatures and used as phosphate-free molds. The cross-section of the castings was investigated using an optical microscope and an electron probe microanalyzer. Whereas the castings into the Qu molds were almost complete, those into the Cr molds were incomplete. The surface reaction zone of the Qu molds formed a typical layered structure with fewer skin holes. That of the latter extended deeply into the interior with a net-shaped Ti-Si phase, cracks, and holes. Addition of MgO to Cr effectively improved the castability and changed the reaction zone to the typical layered structure. However, slender holes occurred along the mold wall. The overall area around the holes was contaminated by Si and Mg. Probably, this resulted from a reaction of forsterite with Ti. The reactivity difference between Qu and Cr was not related to the fired strength of mold.

Molten titanium flow in a mesh cavity by the flow visualization technique.

The tracer element molten (TEM) method, which provides titanium flow visualization in a mold cavity, was applied to investigate the flow in a mesh pattern. When a pressure casting machine was used, most of the mesh rods were composed of many solidification layers, which implied that the flow was laminar and almost steady. When a centrifugal casting machine was used, the flow was almost irregular and a stack of solidification layers was observed in only a few segments. These results indicate that the flow was turbulent. In a complicated cavity, such as a mesh pattern, pressure rather than centrifugal force acts as an effective casting force. Therefore, in such a cavity, favorable castability can be achieved with high pressure and laminar flow.

[Determination of titanium flow by the tracer element molten method in the dental precision casting. 1. The principle of flow visualization and application to simple castings].

The tracer element molten (TEM) method has been developed for flow visualization of molten Titanium in dental precision casting. The principle of this technique is as follows. When Titanium is cast, the tracer element wire inserted previously into the selective point of the sprue is molten little by little and distributed according to the molten Titanium flow in the mold cavity. After solidification, to observe the flow pattern, the tracer element needs to be analyzed on a section of the casting by EPMA equipped with the stage scan mapping system. This technique using Ag, Au, Pd or Pt as a tracer has been applied to some simple castings in shape and has been confirmed to be a very powerful technique for Titanium flow visualization in dental castings.

[Reactions at the nonprecious metal-ceramic interface during porcelain firing. (3) A commercial alloy forming much Cr oxide during firing].

To examine the interface reaction between porcelain and a commercial Ni-Cr dental alloy (containing higher Cr and Mo) during porcelain firing, electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction have been used to characterize the interface which has emerged by means of selective dissolution of the alloy caused by a bromine-methanol solution. Much Cr oxide was formed at the early stage of firing, and remained in the reaction layer even if the holding time at 960 degrees C was up to 8 minutes. As a result, many Cr atoms diffused into the porcelain layer, most of which was found to form oxides through X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the porcelain layer nearest to the oxide layer was deduced to be modified seriously.

[Grinding of titanium. 1. Commercial and experimental wheels made of silicon carbide abrasives].

Cast titanium was ground with commercial and experimental wheels made of silicon carbide abrasives, and their grinding performance was investigated. With the vitrified wheels made of the GC abrasive, at a higher the wheel circumferential speed and heavier the grinding pressure, the cutting rate was greater, accompanied by violent wear of the wheel. Being independent of the wheel speed, the grinding ratio reached about 1 under pressure heavier than 100 gf. The MgO-MgCl2-bonded wheels of the C abrasive exhibited a similar tendency. The manner in which the wheel was moved over the work during grinding proved to be very important, compared with the Ni-Cr alloy as reported previously. Only depression of the wheel against the work resulted in chemical attrition of the abrasive and discoloration of the work surface, or grinding burn, due to oxidation of titanium. Even when the wheel was moved over the work, chip-formation process of the cutting edge was far from ideal, and the work surface was contaminated due to reaction of titanium with the abrasive. At a higher wheel circumferential speed, more chips were loaded or built-up in the wheel and strongly rubbed the work surface, resulting in violent wear of the wheel; loading and dislodging of such chips were repeated.

[Grinding of titanium. 2. Commercial vitrified wheels made of alumina abrasives].

Cast titanium was ground with commercial vitrified wheels made of alumina abrasives, and their grinding performance was investigated. For cutting, the appropriate circumferential speed of the alumina wheels was about 700 m/min. A speed lower or higher than this yielded unfavorable grinding results, which were attributed to wheel loading or chemical attrition of the abrasive, respectively. The hard wheel made of the A abrasive was suitable for grinding of titanium, and moreover, the wheel of the WA abrasive was more suitable than that made of the A abrasive. Generally, the cutting rate of the alumina wheels was inferior to that of the silicon carbide ones investigated previously. Depression of the wheel against the work yielded unfavorable grinding results; the manner in which the wheel was moved over the work during grinding was very important, compared with the silicon carbide wheels. Although the wheel was moved over the work, the high circumferential speed of the wheel resulted in chemical attrition of the abrasive and discoloration of the work surface, or grinding burn. The grinding burn layer mainly consisted of a few microns-thick titanium oxide.

Layered structure of cast titanium surface.

The present study concerns the surface layered structure of the cast Ti. A commercial Ti was cast into a mold which was made of a phosphate-bonded Al2O3/SiO2 investment. Elemental analyses of the interfacial zone of the casting were made under an electron probe micro-analyzer. The interfacial zone was composed of four layers: the outermost reaction or casting burn layer, the second layer of an O-and Al-stabilized alpha case, the third layer in which Si, P, O, and C were inhomogeneously concentrated, and the fourth layer which consisted of acicular or plate-like crystals. It was observed that the larger the cast volume and the higher the mold temperature, the thicker became each layer and the coarser became the acicular grains. Probably, the layered structure was formed through decomposition of reducible species in the burnout investment and diffusion of the resulting elements into the casting.