H P Boyarsky | Search PubMed

PubMed2001

Procedure for occlusal refinement of mounted definitive casts to reduce clinical time required for adjustment of occlusion.

The dental technician works with rigid casts and dies that do not tip or depress. The dentist must use fixed prostheses that have been fabricated in a laboratory setting in a clinical environment that is significantly different. Periodontal ligaments permit individual teeth to move within their boney housing. Mandibles tip and bend, but articulators cannot simulate all this activity. A relatively simple technique for adjusting inclines on the mounted definitive and opposing casts can compensate for many of the differences between rigid casts and subtle clinical tooth movement. This procedure can reduce required chairtime for adjusting the occlusion on crowns and fixed partial dentures.

Crowns↗

PubMed1999

Occlusal refinement of mounted casts before crown fabrication to decrease clinical time required to adjust occlusion.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: An inordinate amount of time is often required to adjust the occlusion of a newly fabricated crown. PURPOSE: This study determined whether the procedure of "cast adjustment" significantly decreases the time necessary to clinically adjust the occlusion of a newly fabricated crown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-eight crowns were fabricated by a commercial dental laboratory for patients of senior dental students at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. After master casts were returned from the laboratory and then mounted on semiadjustable articulators by the students, the cases were divided randomly into 2 groups: (1) the control group, for which no further work was performed before fabrication of the restoration; and (2) the experimental group, in which casts were occlusally adjusted by a certified laboratory technician until there was at least 1 cusp tip to flat surface centric contact on each posterior tooth in maximum intercuspation position. After the crowns were delivered, the students filled out a survey. One question on the survey asked the student for the time required to adjust the occlusion on the crown. RESULTS: Of the 19 crowns in the control group, 6 crowns required more than 1 hour for occlusal adjustment. Of the 19 crowns in the experimental group, 1 crown required more than 1 hour for occlusal adjustment. CONCLUSION: Performing a "cast adjustment" before fabricating a single unit casting can significantly decrease the chance of a lengthy clinical occlusal adjustment.

Centric Relation↗