Clinical and Laboratory Stages of Partial Dentures

• Preliminary impressions:

  • Impression taking problems in the partially edentate:
  • Trays
  • Occlusal schemes and edentulous spans
  • Tears, rips and pulls: undercuts - embrasures
  • Bulk and fluidity
  • Models cast: primary record blocks
  • Need to articulate casts for survey and design AND special trays
• Primary registration:

  • Of primary importance
  • Reproduce natural tooth contacts
  • Check what you have on the models reproduces what is present in the mouth
  • Heel clash other interferences
  • Blue Mousse
• Articulatry study casts:

  • This occlusal record guides your design
  • Failure to accurately record the OVD
  • Cobalt chrome occlusal interference - adjustment or remake
• Design and survey:

  • Almost all removable partial dentures should be appropriately designed
  • Design ideas are formulised by survey and confirmed by the patient
  • Surveying the cast guides and influences design and any tooth modifications
• Design:

  • Consider patient factors
  • Clinical examination
  • Degree of stabilisation - teeth of dubious prognosis which may need to be added
  • Age/cognitive and adaptive capacity
  • Anatomy
  • How do you define stability
• Insert is the time where you discover whether you've checked adequately at all the preceding stages.