American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Dental Hygiene Licensing Examination 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Base metals are known to have a higher oxidization risk in dentistry, particularly during the casting process. This is primarily because they have a greater reactivity compared to noble metals. When base metal alloys are subjected to the heat of casting, the high temperatures can lead to oxidation, which can adversely affect the quality and integrity of the restoration.

In contrast, noble metals are typically resistant to oxidation due to their inherent chemical stability, which allows them to maintain their structure and properties during processing. While not every noble metal is immune to oxidation under all conditions, the statement that only high noble metals oxidize does not reflect the general behavior of noble metals in practice. The assertion that noble metals do not oxidize at all is also overly broad, as some conditions could lead to minor oxidation though they are generally much less susceptible than base metals.

Overall, understanding the behavior of these metals under thermal conditions is crucial for successful dental applications, and recognizing that base metals have a significant oxidization risk is important for preventing flaws in dental prosthetics and restorations.