Effect of repetitive firing on passive fit of metal substructure produced by the laser sintering in implant-supported fixed prosthesis

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the passive fit of metal substructure after repetitive firing processes in implant-supposed prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five implants (4 mm diameter and 10 mm length) were placed into the resin-based mandibular model and 1-piece of screw-retained metal substructure was produced with the direct metal laser sintering (DMSL) method using Co-Cr compound (n = 10). The distance between the marked points on the multiunit supports and the marginal end of the substructure was measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at each stage (metal, opaque, dentin, and glaze). 15 measurements were taken from each prosthesis, and 150 measurements from 10 samples were obtained. In total, 600 measurements were carried out at 4 stages. One-way ANOVA test was used for statistical evaluation of the data. RESULTS: When the obtained marginal range values were examined, differences between groups were found to be statistically significant (P<.001). The lowest values were found in the metal stage (172.4 ± 76.5 µm) and the highest values (238.03 ± 118.92 µm) were determined after glaze application. When the interval values for groups are compared with pairs, the differences between metal with dentin, metal with glaze, opaque with dentin, opaque with glaze, and dentin with glaze were found to be significant (P<.05), whereas the difference between opaque with metal was found to be insignificant (P=.992). CONCLUSION: Passive fit of 1-piece designed implant-retained fixed prosthesis that is supported by multiple implants is negatively affected by repetitive firing processes.