CaptekTM - A new capillary casting technology for ceramometal restorations

CaptekTM (capillary technology) is an advanced metallurgic system that was developed to combine optimal natural esthetics of dental porcelain with the strength of ceramometal , to produce accurate restorations on all types of tooth preparation and provide a biocompatible environment for the oral tissues in simple and affordable procedures. CaptekTM restorations include inlays, onlays, crowns, and anterior and prosterior protheses that are based on CaptekTM precious-metal understructure veneered with bake-on porcelain (Fig 1). CaptekTM alloys are composed of two major components. The first component, when heated, forms a microscopic three-dimensional network of capillaries; the second, when melted, flows to fill these capillaries. This microscopic process works by the forces of capillary attraction to produce a solid-metal composite alloy. The components of a cast composite metal do not diffuse completely into each other but form a matrix-filler combination similar in concept to the dental composite resins widely used in conservative dentistry. Each component of the metal alloy with a variety of desired properties not possible in a single cast alloy. CaptekTM coping combines oxide-free gold color with high-temperature stability, high abrasion resistance and elastic properties that provide burnishable margins, support for high loads as prosthetic abutments, and resilience for stress control at the ceramometal interface (Fig 2). The CaptekTM system includes three pairs of materials that form composite metals: