A beta titanium alloy was evaluated for use in orthodontic appliances. Standard mechanical tests and aspecially designed spring test were used. Two particular thermo-mechanical treatments resulted in titanium springs with 1.8 times the extension of comparable stainless steel springs, and a 2.2 fold reduction in force per unit displacement.

No abstract

Semidirect core buildup made from high-performance polymer enhanced the performance of all-ceramic leucite-reinforced glass ceramic crowns compared with direct light-curing composite resin buildups. The use of a fiber-reinforced post system did not influence the fatigue strength of all-ceramic crowns.

No abstract

In a clinical evaluation of marginal deterioration, 475 amalgram restorations were equally distributed in a 6 X 4 X 2 X 3 factorial design, based on alloy, operator, tooth, and number of restored surfaces. All factors except the last had a statistically significant effect after 6, 12, and 18 months. There were no consistent two-way interactions over time.