Denture base claying

Denture

base claying

Masahiro Koyama, D.D.S., D.D.Sc.* Nihon University, School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan

Pink-colored baseplate wax has long been used for waxing the contours of complete dentures. It works well and easily for those adept in its use. However, for others it is more difficult. Play clay, such as used by school children, that is not water-soluble or Ti-cene (Ticonium Co., Albany, N.Y.) material may be used as the final contouring layer after the dentures have been tried in and sealed to the cast in preparation for processing. Clay is usually not pink and is rather soft so it should not be used to hold the teeth or as a contouring agent during the wax try in. PROCEDURE 1. Try in the dentures and rearrange the teeth as necessary.

*Associate

Professor,

Department

of Prosthodontics.

Fig. 2. A, Left facial surface of maxillary waxed denture partially formed in clay. Clay can be festooned and smoothed with fingers and wax spatula. B, Left side of mandibular denture. Clay sticks to wax well and junction between wax and clay may be made smooth.

Fig. 1. A, Palatal contours shaped with clay. B, Lingual contours of mandibular denture established in clay.

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Fig. 3. Drawing shows most of denture base is made of wax. Clay is used only for veneering.

APRIL

19SB

VOLUMR

61

NUMBER

4

TIPS

FROM

OUR

READERS

2. Place the dentures on the casts in the articulator and adjut the occlusion as necessary. 3. S al the dentures to the casts and remove the casts from tkie articulator. 4. Adapt clay with the fingers and a wax spatula to complete the contours of the palate of the maxillary denture and the lingual flange of the mandibular denture (Fig. 1). 5. Apply clay to the facial surfaces of the maxillary and mandibular dentures to establish the desired contours (Fig. 2).

Secure mounting

of diagnostic

D.A.

F. C. Theisen,

Elledge,

D.D.S.,

M.S.,:

Usually it is preferable to establish the gingival margin in wax and use the clay only for filling out the desired contours (Fig. 3). Reprint requests to: DR. ~~ASAHIRO KOYAMA NIHON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY 1-8-13, SWJCADAI KANDA, CHIYODAKU TOKYO 101 JAPAN

casts

D.D.S.,**

E. M. Amet,

D.D.S.,

M.S.,***

and W. K. Hart,

D.D.S.*

University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO.

Diagnostic casts provide the dentist with a perspective of the patient’s dental needs. They must be mounted in an articulator accurately and securely for study of the occlusal relations and to enable a simulation of jaw movements.i Traditional mounting methods require luting agents such as wax, modeling compound, or rubber bands to hold the diagnostic casts and jaw relation records together for the mounting. Sticky wax, modeling compound, and other ad*Assistant Professor, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics. **Associate Professor, Department of Oral Surgery. ***Private practice, Kansas City, MO.

A

2. Articulator resting on its top bow. Wire and rubber band assemblies being applied to hold mandibular cast in position.

B

hesive materials may not stick to wet casts or records. Rubber bands have a tendency to slip off the smooth surfaces of the casts and must be cut from the mounting gypsum to diselude the casts. A paper clip and rubber band mounting assembly can be made quickly as an aid to hold diagnostic caste for mounting.*

Fig.

PROCEDURE

Fig.

c

1. A, Paper clip opened to form less than 90-degree

angle with small end over rubber band. B, Small ends of paper clips wrapped securely around rubber band. C, Excess length of paper clips cut off leaving small ends around rubber band and other ends forming a hook.

TEE

JOURNAL

OF PROSTHETIC

DENTISTRY

1. Open two No. 2 paper clips (Boise Cascade Corp., Chica-

go, Ill.) to form somewhat less than a go-degree angle (Fig. 1, A). 2. Wrap the small ends around a No. 16 rubber band (Alliance Rubber Co., Alliance, Ohio) (Fig. 1, B). *Wipf HH. Personal communication,

1988.

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