Ion release from Ni-Cr-Mo and Co-Cr-Mo casting alloys.

The substance loss from four commercially available Ni-Cr-Mo and four Co-Cr-Mo alloys was examined using a solution of 0.1 mol/L lactic acid and 0.1 mol/L sodium chloride. Dissolved ions were analyzed over a 5-week period using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results revealed a considerable range of corrosion rates among the Ni-Cr-Mo alloys, with average values after 35 days between 0.54 and 3,261 micrograms/cm2, while the distribution of values for the Co-Cr-Mo alloys was not as wide--between 0.43 and 34.9 micrograms/cm2.     

Initial versus subsequent release of elements from dental casting alloys

The release of elements from dental casting alloys is directly related to adverse biological effects they may have. Longer-term (>1 month) studies of elemental release have suggested that release decreases significantly after a higher initial release of elements. The aim of the current study was to measure the release of elements from a variety of clinically relevant dental casting alloys and compare the release at weekly intervals through 4 weeks. The hypothesis was that the release during the initial week should be higher than in subsequent weeks, and that cytotoxicity should decrease as elemental release decreases. Alloy samples were exposed to cell-culture medium which was changed at weekly intervals and assessed for elemental release by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of the medium was also measured. The results showed that for single phase alloys, initial release was often significantly higher in the first weeks than in subsequent weeks, but not for all elements in an alloy. Multiple phase alloys showed steady or increasing release relative to the first week. Cytotoxicity relationships were complex depending on which elements were released and the ratios of elements released. This study suggests that short-term tests (<1 week) may not be appropriate to evaluate longer-term elemental release or cytotoxicity because of changing rates of elemental release.     

Effect of pH on element release from dental casting alloys

Statement of problem. Dental casting alloys are subjected to transient acidity in the oral environment, yet most studies have not investigated the effects of these transient environments on elemental release from alloys. Elemental release is important because it plays a significant role in alloy biocompatibility. Purpose. It was hypothesized that acidic environments would increase elemental release from dental alloys during exposure and after the acidic environment was removed. This hypothesis was based on the known increase in release of nickel from nickel-based alloys in an acidic environment. Material and methods. High-noble, noble, and base metal casting alloys were exposed for 30 minutes to solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 7. Elemental release of representative elements was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry during the exposure and in the week after the exposure. This release was compared with elemental release in the week before the exposure. Results. High-noble and noble alloys were resistant to acidic environments. A pH of 4 did not increase elemental release during or after exposure. A pH 1 environment slightly elevated release of Ag, Cu, and Pd in some alloys. However, a Ni-based alloy released large amounts of Ni during the acidic exposure of pH 1 or 4, and more importantly, in the week after the exposure as well. Increased time of exposure to acid did not alter elemental release from noble or high-noble alloys, but markedly increased release from the Ni-based alloy. Conclusions. Transient exposure of casting alloys to an acidic oral environment is likely to significantly increase elemental release from Ni-based alloys, but not from high-noble or noble alloys. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;80:691-8.)     

Elemental release from dental casting alloys into biological media with and without protein.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the role of proteins in affecting elemental release from a variety of clinically available dental casting alloys. An important role for proteins was suspected based on previous reports about the corrosion of stainless steel and the cytotoxicity of alloys after exposure to a saline-protein solution. METHODS: Clinically available alloys with compositions ranging from 0 to 94at.% noble elements were exposed for 1 week to either saline, saline with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA), or complete cell-culture medium with 3% serum. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure the release of elements from the alloys. Elemental release was normalized for the exposed surface area of the alloys. RESULTS: In general, more elemental release occurred into the saline-BSA solution compared to saline alone for all released elements (Ag, Cu, Pd, and Zn) except for Ni. Ni release from the NiCr alloy was lower in the presence of BSA. Each element responded somewhat differently with Pd being the least predictable in its behavior. Elemental release was less in the cell-culture medium than in the saline-BSA solution for most elements. For alloys which released multiple elements, all elements responded similarly but not identically to the presence of protein. A high elemental release during exposure to the saline-BSA solution correlated with a low alloy cytotoxicity post-exposure to the saline-BSA. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the importance of defining exactly the composition of biological solutions used to assess in vitro corrosion and biocompatibility of dental casting alloys. Other molecules in addition to proteins appeared to be critical to the corrosion of these alloys in vitro.     

Biocompatibility of dental casting alloys: a review

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM. Dental casting alloys are widely used in applications that place them into contact with oral tissues for many years. With the development of new dental alloys over the past 15 years, many questions remain about their biologic safety. Practitioners must choose among hundreds of alloy compositions, often without regard to biologic properties. PURPOSE. This article is an evidence-based tutorial for clinicians. Concepts and current issues relevant to the biologic effects of dental casting alloys are presented. SUMMARY. The single most relevant property of a casting alloy to its biologic safety is its corrosion. Systemic and local toxicity, allergy, and carcinogenicity all result from elements in the alloy being released into the mouth during corrosion. Little evidence supports concerns of casting alloys causing systemic toxicity. The occurrence of local toxic effects (adjacent to the alloy) is not well documented, but is a higher risk, primarily because local tissues are exposed to much higher concentrations of released metal ions. Several elements such as nickel and cobalt have relatively high potential to cause allergy, but the true risk of using alloys containing these elements remains undefined. Prudence dictates that alloys containing these elements be avoided if possible. Several elements in casting alloys are known mutagens, and a few such as beryllium and cadmium are known carcinogens in different chemical forms. Despite these facts, carcinogenic effects from dental casting alloys have not been demonstrated. Prudent practitioners should avoid alloys containing these known carcinogens. CONCLUSION. To minimize biologic risks, dentists should select alloys that have the lowest release of elements (lowest corrosion). This goal can be achieved by using high-noble or noble alloys with single-phase microstructures. However, there are exceptions to this generality, and selection of an alloy should be made on a case-by-case basis using corrosion and biologic data from dental manufacturers.     

Effect of alloy surface composition on release of elements from dental casting alloys

SUMMARY The release of elements from dental casting alloys is a continuing concern because of the potentially harmful biological effects the elements may have on local tissues. The surfaces of the alloys appear to be most important in controlling the release of these elements. In the current study, the surfaces of high-, reduced-, and no-gold dental alloys were analysed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy before and after they were exposed to a biological medium for up to 96 h. The goal was to relate the release of elements from these alloys to their surface composition, and to determine the depth of the effect of the medium. The depth of the effect of the exposure was determined by argon milling of the alloy surface after exposure to the medium. Elements that were released into the medium were measured by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The release of elements from alloys was greater when the atomic ratio of noble to non-noble elements at the surface was less than 1. The depth of the effect of the medium varied with the alloy, but was always less than 100 Å. The surface composition was significantly different from layers only 5 Å below. It was concluded that the surface concentration of noble elements is important in controlling the release of non-noble elements from these alloys, and the surface composition appeared to be only one or two atomic layers thick. of the three types of alloys, the high-gold alloy appeared to develop the most stable surface composition which released the lowest levels of elements.     

The effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on metal ion release from dental casting alloys

summary  There are concerns that tooth bleaching agents may adversely affect dental materials. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (HP) are more effective than water at increasing metal ion release from two typical dental casting alloys during bleaching. Discs ( n  =   28 for each alloy) were prepared by casting and heat treated to simulate a typical porcelain-firing cycle. Discs ( n  =   7) of each alloy were immersed in either 0%, 3%, 10% or 30% (w/v) HP solutions for 24 h at 37 °C. Samples were taken for metal ion release determination using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and the data analysed using a two-way anova followed by a one-way anova . The surface roughness of each disc was measured using a Talysurf contact profilometer before and after bleaching and the data analysed using a paired t -test. With the exception of gold, the differences in metal ion concentration after treatment with 0% (control) and each of 3%, 10% and 30% HP (w/v) were statistically significant ( P  <   0·05). Metal ion release from the two alloys increased with increasing HP concentrations (over 3000% increase in Ni and 1400% increase in Pd ions were recorded when HP concentration increased from 0% to 30%). Surface roughness values of the samples before and after bleaching were not significantly different ( P  > 0·05) Exposure of the two dental casting alloys to HP solutions increased metal ion release of all the elements except gold.     

The effects of cleaning on the kinetics of in vitro metal release from dental casting alloys.

The kinetics of the release of elements from six dental casting alloys into cell-culture medium was assessed by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Alloys were evaluated in the polished and polished-cleaned conditions so that the effects of cleaning could be determined. Auger scanning microscopy was used for analysis of the surfaces of selected alloys before and after exposure to the cell-culture medium. Release patterns for each element were characterized by the shape of the dissolution vs. time curve, concentration of the element at 12 h as a percentage of the 72-hour concentration, and the relative slope of the curve from 48 to 72 h. Three patterns of release were observed for elements in these alloys. Type I patterns had logarithmic shapes with relatively large 12-hour concentrations and low 48-72-hour slopes. Type II patterns had logarithmic shapes but with moderate 12-hour concentrations and 48-72-hour slopes. Type III patterns were polynomial in shape, had relatively low 12-hour concentrations, and had large 48-72-hour slopes. Cleaning did not change the pattern of release but did generally significantly decrease the quantities of elements released (p = 0.05). The type of dissolution vs. time curve appeared to be dependent upon the element and the composition of the alloy. When cleaning reduced dissolution, surface analyses showed that the cleaning process increased the abundance of elements such as Au and Pd and reduced the abundance of Ag and Cu. Elements which were released from the alloys were more abundant on the surface than in the bulk in both polished and polished-cleaned conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy measurements of elemental release from 2 high-palladium dental casting alloys into a corrosion testing medium.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The biocompatibility of high-palladium alloy restorations has been of some concern due to the release of palladium into the oral environment and sensitivity reactions in patients. PURPOSE: This study measured the in vitro elemental release from a Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and a Pd-Ga alloy into a corrosion testing medium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Both alloys were cast into 12-mm-diameter x 1-mm-thick disks, subjected to heat treatment that simulated porcelain firing cycles, polished to a 0.05-mm surface finish, and ultrasonically cleaned in ethanol. Two specimens of each alloy were immersed 3 times (at 7, 70, and 700 hours) in an aqueous lactic acid/NaCl solution used for in vitro corrosion testing and maintained at 37 degrees C. The specimens were removed after each immersion time, and the elemental compositions of the solutions were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Elemental concentrations for the 2 alloys at each immersion time were compared with Student t test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: No significant differences in palladium release were found for the 7- and 70-hour solutions, but significant differences were found for the 700-hour solutions. Mean concentrations of palladium and gallium in the 700-hour solutions, expressed as mass per unit area of alloy surface, were 97 (Pd) and 46 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and 5 (Pd) and 18 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Ga alloy. CONCLUSION: Relative proportions of the elements in the solutions were consistent with the release of palladium and breakdown of microstructural phases found in the alloys. The results suggest that there may be a lower risk of adverse biological reactions with the Pd-Ga alloy than with the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy tested.     

The effect of a microcarrier suspension cell culture system on polarization measurements from Ni-Cr dental casting alloys.

OBJECTIVES: Recent research has demonstrated that cells/cellular components can influence the corrosion or degradation of the implant material in addition to being challenged by the cytotoxic by-products the implant material may release. The overall objective of this research was to modify a microcarrier suspension cell culture system to incorporate an active corrosion experimental capacity. METHODS: The ability to conduct polarization experiments on two Ni-Cr dental casting alloys under the following environmental conditions: media only, media plus serum, media plus serum and antibiotics (complete media), complete media with microcarriers, and complete media with cells grown on microcarriers; was evaluated during this initial study. RESULTS: Results obtained were reproducible within sample groups (95% confidence level) indicating the precision of the corrosion set-up under all environmental conditions. These studies also show that media with serum and antibiotics (complete media) induced a significantly higher corrosion rate (95% confidence level) for both materials compared to the other test conditions. SIGNIFICANCE: Future experiments will focus on cytotoxic effects caused by parametrically controlled corrosion experiments on the suspension cell cultures, including co-cultures.     

Elements released from dental casting alloys and their cytotoxic effects

PURPOSE: This in vitro study investigated the element release from seven commercially available dental casting alloys and tested their cytotoxic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The casting alloys tested were one high-noble alloy (Bioherador N) and six base-metal alloys, including four Ni-Cr alloys (Remanium CS, Heranium NA, Wiron 99, CB Soft), one Co-Cr alloy (Wirobond C), and one Cu-based alloy (Thermobond). Ten specimens from each alloy were prepared in the form of disks, and each of the seven dental casting alloys (10 disks per group) were conditioned in distilled water at 37 degrees C for either 72 or 168 hours. The conditioning media were analyzed for element release, and the cytotoxic effects were assessed on Balb C fibroblasts using MTT assay. RESULTS: Element release was greater at 168 hours of conditioning than at 72 hours. The extract from the high-noble alloy showed the least amount of element release (only Zn), with no cytotoxic effects. The greatest amount of element release was detected in the Cu-based alloy Thermobond and the Ni-Cr alloy CB Soft; their extracts were significantly more toxic than all the other alloy extracts. The cytotoxic effects of the other Ni-Cr alloy extracts were not statistically significantly different from the high-noble alloy extract. However, the Co-Cr alloy (Wirobond C) extract was significantly more cytotoxic than the high-noble alloy extract. CONCLUSION: Element release from casting alloys is proportional to the conditioning time. The content of Cr and Mo in the alloy protects the alloy from dissolution, while the Cu content makes it more susceptible to corrosion and dissolution, rendering it more cytotoxic.     

In vitro TNF-alpha release from THP-1 monocytes in response to dental casting alloys exposed to lipopolysaccharide

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Studies have found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) attaches to and is eluted from dental alloys, but the biologic effects of LPS are not known. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the ability of dental casting alloys pre-exposed to LPS to activate human monocytes with and without subsequent elution of the LPS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight types of casting alloys (n = 6 specimens per type) were exposed to LPS (Escherichia coli @ 100 micrograms/mL) for 24 hours. Controls were not exposed to LPS. Teflon (Tf) (+/- LPS) served as the material control. Treated alloys were transferred to THP-1 human monocytes for 24 hours or placed into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution for 120 hours before monocyte exposure. Monocyte activation was assessed by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion into the medium. Alloys without LPS, with LPS but without PBS elution, and with LPS and elution were compared with ANOVA and Turkey intervals (alpha=.05). RESULTS: Specimens without LPS exposure but with elution caused no detectable TNF-alpha secretion from monocytes. Specimens without elution into PBS caused low-to-moderate TNF-alpha secretion, indicating a possible false-positive result from the alloy conditioning solution used. After LPS exposure but no elution, high levels of TNF-alpha were found. When alloys were eluted for 120 hours after LPS exposure, there was no detectable TNF-alpha released. CONCLUSION: In this in vitro system as in past studies, LPS appeared to adhere to and elute from the alloys. Monocytes were activated initially but not after elution into PBS for 120 hours. Alloy conditioning solutions may also have an artifactual effect on cytokine release.     

Correlation between strength and hardness of dental casting gold alloys.

The yield strength, tensile strength, and hardness of Type IV dental casting gold alloys were measured. Regression lines and prediction intervals for the estimation of yield strength and tensile strength from hardness measurements were then determined. The 95% prediction intervals for the yield strength and tensile strength were found to be +/- 45 MN/m2 and +/- 105 MN/m2, respectively.     

Release of elements from dental casting alloys into cell-culture medium over 10 months.

OBJECTIVE: The release of elements from eight types of commonly used dental casting alloys into cell-culture medium was measured over a 10-month period. The release of elements was determined to provide information about the long-term biological risk these alloys may pose to the oral tissues. The current work extends previous studies of shorter time periods, and is more relevant to the in vivo situation, where dental alloys are present intraorally for years. METHOD: The alloys were Au-, Ag-, Pd-, and Ni-based with nobilities ranging from 0 to 95 at.%. Alloy samples (n = 12) were exposed to cell-culture medium. The medium was changed every 30 days for 10 months. Elemental release into the medium was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Differences in mass release were determined using ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison intervals (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The release of elements continued through 10 months, and it appeared that the release was constant throughout most of the experiment. Higher initial rates were suspected but not verified. Most alloys reached a constant rate after < 100 days of exposure to the medium. Long-term element release was not generally intuitive based on the amount of an element in an alloy or the overall nobility of the alloy. Total mass lost over the 10-month period ranged from < 2 micrograms/cm2 for the Au-Pd alloy to 55 micrograms/cm2 for the Au-Ag-Cu alloy (Tukey interval at alpha = 0.05 was 0.8 microgram/cm2). By comparison, pure Cu lost 4500 micrograms/cm2 during this period. SIGNIFICANCE: Tests which assess biological risk from elemental release must consider longer-term release because elemental release continues for extended periods. Longer-term mass loss from a given alloy is often not intuitive based on its overall composition or noble metal content.     

Structure and properties of dental casting gold alloys: II. Emf-measurements using stabilized ZrO2 as solid electrolyte as a means of studying cluster formation in gold-copper alloys

The existence of complexes (clusters) in the alloy system Au-Cu was studied through determination of the copper activity for 14 different compositions at temperatures around 1100 K. The experimental data were obtained from emf measurements using stabilized ZrO₂ as the solid electrolyte. Using an equilibrium calculation method the relative amounts of »free» gold, of »free» copper and of complexes were indicated. The best fit to experimental data was obtained with a model assuming the existence of the complexes Cu₃Au. CuAu, CuAu₃ and CuAu₉.