Comparison of Ni-Cr based partial dentures prepared by thermoplastic and wax based investment casting: Mechanical, morphological and in-vitro analysis

Abstract The Ni-Cr (Y) alloys are being extensively used for the manufacture of commercial partial dentures (PDs). In this study, five different routes of developing master patterns (including conventional wax, computer-aided manufactured wax, three-dimensional printed (3DP) thermoplastic, wax coated 3DP thermoplastic, and acetone treated 3DP thermoplastic) have been compared for the development of Y-alloy based PDs through conventional investment casting (IC) process. The finally developed PDs have been compared for their geometrical (dimensional accuracy and surface roughness), mechanical (micro-hardness), and morphological (optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis). Moreover, the in-vitro corrosion and cell-culture properties of the developed PDs have also been analyzed. The overall results of the study highlighted that depending on the merits offered by the master pattern, the PDs can be developed for superior dimensional accuracy, surface finish, micro-hardness, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.