Clinical Considerations for Obtaining Accurate Soldering Connectors for Fixed Prosthesis

Abstract

Two methods fabricating connectors of fixed bridge restorations are commonly employed. Connector of one-piece cast bridge carries several advantages such as resistance to tarnish and corrosion, strength, and simple laboratory procedure. This method, however, is used in the limited cases for the bridge construction. Since it is cast, its indication is restricted for the bridge consisting only one type of alloy. Furthermore, the fit of the one-piece cast bridge depends upon the casting accuracy. As is known, excellent marginal integrity is awfully difficult to obtain when dealing with multiretainer prosthesis.
Soldering method is the alternative to one-piece cast method and is more commonly employed for the bridge connector construction presently. This method affords several advantages to onepiece cast method. All combinations of the types of alloys may be used in a bridge fabrication. The strength of the connector is secured unless improper design or undue oxidization of the soldering surfaces are provided. Dimensional accuracy of the connector is reported to be acceptable. In addition, soldering method allows better esthetic control than one-piece cast does when fabricating anterior bridge connectors.
The purpose of this article is to review the studies concerning accurate soldering procedures and to discuss clinical applications of those.