Innovative materials and processes in the dental prosthetic production

The study regards innovative processes and materials for dental restorations, proposing a novel approach to combine engineering knowledge and technical specifications with medical needs. Three main research lines are dealt with. The first is additive manufacturing of Cr-Co alloys for the production of crowns and bridges: mechanical performances and microstructure are investigated and compared to those obtained by the traditional casting technique. A similar investigation, merging mechanical response and micromechanisms, regarded yttrium-stabilized zirconia for dental prostheses. Last, the design of a new protocol for the dimensional assessment of implant-abutment connections is stated, based on non-contact measurement and statistical data processing. The procedure is applied to machined- and cast-on abutments, as well of the matching implants.