Alloys in dental technology — cobalt-chromium, precious metal and titanium
Why the metal choice matters for strength, biocompatibility and price
Metal is included in a large part of what a dental technician produces — as individual crowns and bridges, as cores under ceramic layers, and as frames in partial dentures. But "metal" covers many different alloys with their own properties, and the choice of alloy affects both strength, weight, colour, price and how well the body tolerates the material.
§Cobalt-chromium - the workhorse
Cobalt-chromium alloys are today the most common choice for prosthetic frames bridges and crowns where precious metal is not required. The alloy is stiff wear-resistant and relatively inexpensive compared to precious metals and it is well-suited for both casting and digital milling. Because cobalt-chromium traditionally does not contain nickel you avoid the nickel allergy which can otherwise be a problem with prolonged contact between metal and mucous membrane.
§Precious metal alloys
Gold and other precious metal alloys have historically been the standard in dental technology and are still used where their properties are valuable: good workability, excellent adaptability to the tooth's surface and a long clinical track record for biocompatibility. The downside is the price, which fluctuates with the global metal price, and therefore precious metals today are typically reserved for cores under ceramics or specific wishes from patient or dentist rather than being the standard choice.
§Titanium - light and biocompatible
Titanium stands out by being significantly lighter than both cobalt-chromium and precious metal while having very high biocompatibility — which is why titanium is used for dental implants that must be integrated directly into the jaw bone. In dental technical work, titanium is mainly used for implant-supported constructions and for patients where low weight or special sensitivity to other metals is an advantage. On the other hand, titanium is more difficult to cast and requires special equipment, so it is often milled instead.
- 01Strength and stiffness: determine how thin the material can be made without bending or breaking.
- 02Weight: particularly important for large prosthetics or implant constructions where the weight is felt.
- 03Biocompatibility: how well body tissue tolerates prolonged contact with the metal.
- 04Price: precious metals fluctuate with market price, non-precious alloys are more stable in price.
- 05Processing method: whether the alloy is best suited to casting, milling or both.
| Alloying | Weight | Price | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt-chromium | Medium | Make the dish through before it goes on the menu. Time it, taste it, and assess whether it can maintain quality when busy. A dish that only works when there's calm doesn't belong on a fixed menu. | Denture bases, bridges, crowns |
| Precious metal (gold) | High | High and fluctuating | Cores under ceramic, classic crowns |
| Titanium | Lav | Medium-high | Implant constructions, allergy-sensitive patients |
There is no one right alloy — only the right choice for the task. A skilled dental technician not only knows the recipe for each alloy but can justify the choice to the dentist based on strength weight biocompatibility and price ensuring the patient gets a solution that lasts.
“The right metal is not the most expensive or the strongest — it is the one that fits this particular patient.”