Effect of package weight on the total amount of die stone used annually in a dental school.
PURPOSE: This study compared the total amount of Type IV dental stone (die stone) used annually by dental students when they were supplied with either 70-g or 140-g preweighed packages of die stone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In September 1994, all the bulk containers of die stone were removed from the student dental clinic and laboratories and replaced by 70-g preweighed packages of die stone (Silky-Rock; Whip Mix, Louisville, KY). At the end of August 1998, all 70-g packages of die stone were removed from the student dental clinic and laboratories. The average annual number of 70-g packages of preweighed die stone used by the students from 1994 to 1998 was calculated. From September 1998 to the end of August 1999, only 140-g preweighed packages of die stone (Silky-Rock) were supplied to the students. The number of the 140-g packages of preweighed die stone and total weight used by students during this period were calculated and compared with the average annual number of 70-g preweighed packages of die stone used during the 1994-1998 period. RESULTS: From September 1994 to August 1998, the students used an annual average of 4060 +/- SD 250 of the 70-g packages (284.2 +/- 17.5 kg per annum). From September 1998 to August 1999, the students used 3360 of the 140-g packages (470.4 kg). CONCLUSIONS: Although the students used in total 700 fewer of the 140-g die stone packages per annum than the annual average number of 70-g packages, they used 186.2 kg (65.5%) more die stone when supplied with the 140-g packages.