Rapid technique for constructing a hollow-bulb provisional obturator

Rapid technique for constructing a hollow-bulb provisional obturator Oscar E. Beder, D.D.S.,* and Jiro Todo** University of Washington, School of Dentistry, Seattle, Wash.

I t is often advantageous to construct a prosthesis with a hollow bulb for a patient with a large palatal defect. At the provisional obturator stage, when speed is often expedient, the use of hollow plastic forms in the bulb portion can facilitate the construction of the prosthesis. TECHNIQUE 1. Obtain a selection of hollow plastic forms of various shapes and sizes at a store that sells toys. Their shape and size can be modified, if necessary, by cutting and restoring the cut side with autopolymerizing resin (Fig. I). 2. Place the appropriate hollow form in the defect *Director, Maxillotacial Prosthetics Clinic. **Chief Dental Technician, P r o s t h o d o n t i c Department.

Fig. 2. Autopolymerized positioning resin on superior surface of the form.

Fig. 1. Assorted hollow plastic toys used as plastic forms. Bottom right, modified plastic form.

0022-3913/78/0239-0237500.30/0 9 1978 The C. V. Mosby Co.

Fig. 3. The hollow form placed in defect.

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Fig. 4. Fluid autopolymerizing resin is poured into defect.

Fig. 6. Plaster core of wax-up with pour and vent holes.

Fig. S. Completed wax-up of the provisional obturator.

Fig. 7. Completed provisional obturator.

of the cast after adding autopolymerizing resin of a doughy consistency to its superior surface (Figs. 2 and 3). This positions the form and enables the operator to pour autopolymerizing resin (in fluid form) into the defect to establish the walls of the bulb portion (Fig. 4).

3. Complete the wax-up of the provisional obturator (Fig. 5). 4. Make a plaster core of the wax-up, allowing for the necessary pour and vent holes for the pour technique (Fig. 6), 1 or flask and process as for routine dentures (Figs. 7 and 8). When using the latter

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RAPIDTECHNIQUEFOR HOLLOW-BULBPROVISIONALOBTURATOR

REFERENCE 1. Beder,O. E.: Emergency temporary obturators. J PROSTHET DENT20:172, 1968. Reprint requests to: DR. OSCARE. BEDER UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY SEATTLE, WASH. 98195

Fig. 8. Obturator portion, cut to visualize the hollow bulb.

procedure, make certain that the palatal surface of the form is covered with the hard autopolymerized resin to prevent the forcing of resin into the form during trial packing.

A R T I C L E S T O A P P E A R IN F U T U R E I S S U E S

Punch shear strength of polycarboxylate cements Jos6 F0rtunato Ferreira Santos, G.D., Ph.D., Lincoln Steagall, C.D., Ph.D., and Jos6 Itamar M. Silveira, B.S.

A method of fabricating a hollow obturator Aaron Schneider

Delivering surface irradiation to persistent unresectable squamous cell carcinomas: A prosthodontic solution Alan B. Sheiner, D.D.S., and Phyllis J . Ager, M.D.

Retention of endodontic dowels: Effects of cement and dowel length, diameter, and design J. P. Standlee, D.D.S., A. A. Gaputo, Ph.D., and E. C. Hanson, D.D.S.

Spherical powder for retaining thermosetting acrylic resin veneers T. Tanaka, D.D.S., M. Atsuta, D.D.S., D.D.Sc., Y. Uchiyama, D.D.S., D.D.Sc., N. Nakabayashi, Ph.D., and E. Masuhara, D.D.S., D.M.Sc.

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