Noble alloys in dentistry.

Noble metals used for dental castings continue to consist of alloys of gold, palladium, and silver (not a noble metal), with smaller amounts of iridium, ruthenium, and platinum. The majority are used as a backing for ceramic baking, with the rest used as inlays, onlays, and unveneered crowns. Base metal alloys, principally made of nickel, chromium, and beryllium have gained widespread usage, especially in the United States, due to their lower cost and higher mechanical properties. The current literature, for the most part, cites the use of noble alloys as controls for trials of alternative materials. Direct gold (gold foil) still retains a following and a number of new patents were founded.