Tips From Our Readers
A chair side cast with removable die for the fabrication of indirect composite resin restorations
The fabrication of indirect composite resin restorations (ICRRs) presents multiple advantages over direct techniques. While sharing the advantage of direct repair in the event of a fracture, when compared with direct composite resin restorations, ICRRs require less intraoral time and increase patient comfort. Facilitated manipulation and control of restorative materials improving marginal adaptation and control over polymerization shrinkage are also advantages of ICRRs.1 However, a disadvantage of ICRRs is the need to obtain a definitive cast with a removable die, typically preventing single-appointment procedures.Quality assurance of ceramic dental restorations by photographic transillumination
Quality assurance of indirect restorations should be performed by the dental laboratory before delivering the prosthetic parts to the clinician. Ultimately, it is the clinician’s responsibility to inspect and ensure, within the limits of clinically available technical and technological means, the quality of the prosthesis prior to insertion. Transillumination techniques in dentistry have been described as an aid in diagnosis as well as during the execution of various clinical procedures, including those for interproximal caries detection,1 endodontic visualization of dentinal defects,2 surgical localization of retained roots,3 location of the maxillary sinus floor and septa during sinus augmentation procedures,4 diagnosis of occult submucous cleft palate,5 and as a facilitator during arthroscopic puncture.
