Minimizing the risk of fracture of definitive casts for removable partial dentures: A dental technique

Abstract

A technique is described to facilitate impression making and safely obtain the definitive cast for removable partial dentures with long, retentive, or lone-standing abutment teeth. Firstly, the individualized stock tray receives a coating of melted wax. Next, the prepared teeth are impressed with irreversible hydrocolloid, and the set impression is removed from mouth. The mold is then poured conventionally and, after the gypsum has set, is immersed in hot water to soften the wax and allow removal of the tray. The impression material is carefully cut away with a scalpel blade to expose the cast. With these straightforward and easily made changes compared with the conventional technique, the risk of fracturing the definitive cast is minimized, especially when reproducing long retentive teeth. A dental technique is presented that uses wax to coat the impression tray to facilitate the passive displacement of the cast. This results in a straightforward and precise definitive cast for removable partial dentures.