Dimensional Accuracy of 7 Die Materials

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the linear dimensional accuracy and the handling characteristics of 7 die materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A master die analogous to a complete veneer crown preparation was machined from medical grade stainless steel, and 3 measurements (1: vertical; 2 and 3: horizontal) were made from 3 scribed reference lines. Individual polyvinylsiloxane impressions were made (n = 10) for each of the specimens. The fabricated dies were measured (50x) to the nearest 0.0001 mm. Data were subject to ANOVA/Duncan tests at significance level 0.05 and pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: Type IV resin-impregnated dental stone and copper-plated dies most closely approximated the dimensions of the master die, and were not significantly different from each other in any of the pairwise comparisons. Conventional Types IV and V dental stone dies exhibited setting expansion within the range appropriate for gypsum. Epoxy resin die materials demonstrated shrinkage comparable to the expansion of the Types IV and V dies. Polyurethane dies displayed a combination of linear expansion and shrinkage. Bis-acryl composite resin dies had excessive shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS: Type IV resin-impregnated dental stone and copper-plated dies were more dimensionally accurate than the other die materials tested.