Casting of titanium in dentistry

Abstract

When the Japanese era changed from Showa to Heisei, dental research in materials and devices focused heavily on titanium casting and visible light-cured composite resins. Although metal materials were problematic due to metal ion release and poor esthetics, their marked toughness and durability made them the first choice for prosthetic restorations for molars, which are essential to improve chewing.

Dental alloys had to be fabricated by casting；however, titanium was difficult to apply because of its high melting point compared with traditional dental alloys（around 1670˚C）and the deterioration of physical properties with oxidation. As a result, much research in this field has been conducted to revisie the casting process, including mold materials and casting methods. This article reviews research on titanium casting.