Effects of Temperature Variations during Sintering of Metal Ceramic Tooth Prostheses Investigated Non-Destructively with Optical Coherence Tomography

Calibration loss of ovens used in sintering metal ceramic prostheses leads to stress and 18 cracks in the material of the prostheses fabricated, and ultimately to failure of the dental treatment. 19 Periodic calibration may not be sufficient to prevent such consequences. Evaluation methods based 20 on firing supplemental control samples are subjective, time consuming, and rely entirely on the 21 technician’s skills. The aim of this study was to propose an alternative procedure for such 22 evaluations. Fifty prostheses were sintered in a ceramic oven at a temperature lower, equal or 23 larger than the temperature prescribed by the manufacturer. A non-destructive imaging method, 24 swept source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate comparatively the 25 internal structure of prostheses so fabricated. A quantitative assessment procedure is proposed, 26 based on en-face OCT images acquired at similar depths inside the samples. Differences in 27 granulation and reflectivity depending on the oven temperature are used to establish 28 rules-of-thumb on judging the correct calibration of the oven. OCT evaluations, made on a regular 29 basis allow an easy and objective monitoring of correct settings in the sintering process. This 30 method can serve rapid identification