Chapters authored
Acrylates and Their Alternatives in Dental Applications
Acrylic resins dominated dentures technology for several decades. Due to their many disadvantages, new classes of resins, which promise better quality, constantly appear. Mechanical properties of acrylic resins, including fracture behaviour, water absorption and mechanical strength degradation caused by the exposure to saliva of classical heat-cured acrylic resins compared to alternative urethane-based light-cured resins, were carried out. The allergy potential of acrylic resins was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro tests. New choices of resins, like thermoplastic injected resins, light-cured or milled high-performance polymers, with better properties compared to acrylics, suitable for dental applications are being presented.
Part of the book: Acrylic Polymers in Healthcare
Laser Welding of Different Dental Alloys
Laser welding permits joining various types of pieces, made of similar or different alloys, as titanium-based alloys, CoCr alloys, and even AuPd alloys. Laser welding is best suited to weld titanium alloys because they have higher rates of laser beam absorption and lower thermal conductivity compared to other dental casting alloys. Compared to micro pulse welding, laser welding is superior, obtaining the welding cord being faster and easier. The success of the welding procedure depends on the operator’s dexterity and the choice of the welding parameters. Selecting the best combination of pulse energy, pulse duration, and peak power for each welding step is decisive.
Part of the book: Superalloys for Industry Applications