PFM Semi-Precious
Posted on 08/30/2011
The term semi-precious is a bit of a misnomer - as metals are really classified as either base metals or precious metals. However, this term has become so commonplace in our industry that it certainly warrants its own name.
The term semi-precious typically refers to the ADA Classification of a Noble Alloy - i.e. an alloy that contain 25% or more of either gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, osmium or ruthenium. Essentially, this classification was designed to help doctors and labs with rising gold prices and allow for alloys that have other precious metal contents other than gold. Historically, most labs used high palladium content (palladium content of 50% or more) alloys and typically these alloys also contained silver. However, with the recent rise of alloy prices, labs have begun to incorporate even lower content metals - such as Callisto-CP Plus by Ivoclar - with 25% palladium content. The "low palladium content" alloys, which contain high amounts of Chrome and Cobalt, typically feel more like a non-precious than a standard semi-precious in terms of their brittle properties. But they are still noble metals and can be reported as such.
The most compelling difference between the semi-precious (noble) metal and the non-precious metal is the physical properties of the metal - it is softer and more malleable for technicians and dentist and it does not contain nickel. Of course, the final difference is cost - as noble metals are much more expensive than base metals and as such reimbursements are different as well.
More information about our semi-precious alloys is available at:
https://www.streamlinedental.com/products/PFM/SEMI-PRECIOUS/
The term semi-precious typically refers to the ADA Classification of a Noble Alloy - i.e. an alloy that contain 25% or more of either gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, osmium or ruthenium. Essentially, this classification was designed to help doctors and labs with rising gold prices and allow for alloys that have other precious metal contents other than gold. Historically, most labs used high palladium content (palladium content of 50% or more) alloys and typically these alloys also contained silver. However, with the recent rise of alloy prices, labs have begun to incorporate even lower content metals - such as Callisto-CP Plus by Ivoclar - with 25% palladium content. The "low palladium content" alloys, which contain high amounts of Chrome and Cobalt, typically feel more like a non-precious than a standard semi-precious in terms of their brittle properties. But they are still noble metals and can be reported as such.
The most compelling difference between the semi-precious (noble) metal and the non-precious metal is the physical properties of the metal - it is softer and more malleable for technicians and dentist and it does not contain nickel. Of course, the final difference is cost - as noble metals are much more expensive than base metals and as such reimbursements are different as well.
More information about our semi-precious alloys is available at:
https://www.streamlinedental.com/products/PFM/SEMI-PRECIOUS/
