Comparative study on some structural properties of Ni- and Co base dental alloys produced by thermal alloying and powder metallurgical methods

•This publication presents comparative structural analyses of primary cast and recast Ni and Co alloys with applications in dental medicine.•The alloys are made by both the conventional high-temperature alloying and the powder-metallurgical method.•Some disadvantages of the classical synthesis method are discussed.•Studies utilizing XRD, SEM and EDX methods reveal structural similarities between primary cast alloys obtained by the conventional method and recast PM alloys.•Furthermore, PM alloys were found to have a relatively more homogenous structure and constant chemical composition.•The results of the study indicate that PM alloys have certain technological and economic advantages.•The effects of the manufacture method and composition of alloys on their structural peculiarities are discussed.•Such comparative studies have not been undertaken before, to the best of our knowledge.