Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the fitting accuracy of cast titanium crowns in a private practice setting.
Methods: In a non-randomized, controlled clinical trial 22 complete cast and 31 porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) titanium crowns were placed (commercially pure titanium DIN grade 1, Castmatic, Dentaurum). 26 complete cast and 23 PFM high gold crowns formed the control groups. The investigated variable was the marginal gap width prior to placement. It was evaluated by replica technique and indirect measurement. The replica was formed by a light body silicone film filling the space between crown and tooth when seating the crown. This silicone film was stabilized by a heavy body silicone before removing it from the crown. The resultant silicone die was segmented following a standardized protocol. In a traveling microscope the thickness of the cross-sectioned light body film was measured in 50µm distance from the crown margin at eight measuring points per crown.
Results: Means of mean gap widths per crown were 102±23µm in titanium complete cast crowns, 99±18µm in titanium PFM crowns, 96±27µm in high gold complete cast crowns, and 92±22µm in high gold PFM crowns. There were no significant differences between the groups. The maximum of the mean per crown ranged between 143µm and 167µm. In a worst case evaluation, the maximum was 260 µm when considering every measuring point.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that within the environment of a private practice the fitting accuracy of titanium and high gold crowns was similar.