Tips From Our Readers
Radiographic template used to facilitate the alignment of digital scans to computed tomography scans with extensive beam hardening artifacts
Endosteal dental implants have shown to be an excellent long-term resource for the treatment of edentulism.1 For decades, restorative-driven implant placement has been considered the norm for patient care,2,3 and careful presurgical planning by using accurate diagnostic elements is widely recognized as a requirement for predictable, esthetic, and functional implant placement.3A cost-effective technique for fabricating a dentoform by using a complete digital workflow
Direct posterior composite resin restorations are a routine procedure and represent a large part of the restorative work in daily practice1; surprisingly, their complexity may be underestimated by many clinicians. This highly skill-dependent treatment requires well-defined layering protocols and practice by the dentist to make it more predictable and time-efficient,2-5 but many dentists do not invest in perfecting the procedure.6Permanent double-sided tape to facilitate the cementation of indirect restorations
Different carrying devices have been proposed to facilitate the handling of indirect restorations, including the Optrastick (Ivoclar AG) and flowable composite resin applied to a microbrush tip.1,2 Such devices prevent an indirect restoration being dropped during the cementation process, avoiding the risk of aspiration or ingestion.3-10 This article proposes an affordable and straightforward method using a permanent double-sided tape (VHB Tape size 12 mm×4.5 m; 3M), commonly used in automotive and construction applications.Use of aluminum foil to facilitate open-tray implant impressions
When the conventional impression technique is selected over digital optical scanning for multiple implants, the open tray impression technique has been recommended over the closed tray or transfer technique in situations where 4 or more implants are present.1,2 The open tray technique incorporates a large opening in the impression tray that accommodates the complete-arch impression copings.3 While loading the impression material into the tray, preventing the material from escaping through the opening is often difficult.Visual inspection of implant screw access hole with an endoscope camera
Prosthetic complications may necessitate the removal of an implant-supported restoration.1-4 Retrieval of cement-retained implant prostheses without any preexisting index of the screw access hole is challenging as it requires precision from the clinician during attempts to locate the abutment screws.5,6 Implants placed in unfavorable positions make the visibility of the screw access hole difficult, and the retrieval attempts in such situations pose a threat to the implant components, the intaglio surface of the implant, or the abutment screw.A straightforward technique for removing titanium bases from screw-retained monolithic implant-supported prostheses
Monolithic screw-retained computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturer (CAD-CAM) ceramics are widely used for implant-supported prostheses because of their efficiency in terms of manufacturing time, cost, and predictability.1,2 In this prosthetic design, a complete-contour prosthesis is typically milled in translucent zirconia or lithium disilicate and adhesively cemented under optimal conditions extraorally onto a titanium base, resulting in a screw-retained prosthesis.3,4 This method has the advantage of using prefabricated machined titanium bases that will not be processed in a furnace as in conventional techniques for metal-ceramic restorations, ensuring their structural integrity, absence of oxidation, and optimum fit.A technique for selecting complete denture teeth by attaching printed tooth mold images
Tooth selection for complete denture patients has been assisted by different anthropometric studies of individuals from various ethnicities.1-4 However, it may be difficult for the patient to evaluate the esthetic outcome until the tooth arrangement is completed. Although digital dentistry has enabled visualizing the outcome with a digital trial restoration, the expensive software program and complex workflow may make these procedures inaccessible for many practices, and it may be many years before it becomes routine for complete denture fabrication.Straightforward tip for identifying the type of screwdriver needed for screw-retained implant-supported prostheses
Screw loosening is a common complication of screw-retained implant prostheses.1,2 If the prosthesis was made in another clinic, it is sometimes challenging for clinicians to know what type of screwdriver to use. Using magnification loops with light to visualize the screw's head, making a radiograph to identify the implant type, or trying various available screwdrivers may help select the needed screwdriver. However, in some situations, such as when nonoriginal screws have been used or there are very deep screw channels, identifying which screwdriver should be used is not possible.A method for fabrication of extraoral verification template for implant master cast
An accurate intraoral impression of the 3-dimensional position of dental implants and peri-implant tissues is essential when fabricating an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis. It is equally important to transfer this information precisely to the definitive cast.1,2 Different impression transfer techniques for implant-supported restorations, including splinting impression copings, surface treatment of impression copings, direct or indirect impression techniques, and different impression materials, are available.Custom tray modification to accurately capture the lingual sulcus of an edentulous mandible
The lingual extension of a mandibular edentulous impression is the most challenging border to determine accurately. Appropriately extending the mandibular lingual flange to assist in stabilizing a removable denture can be obtained with correct understanding of anatomy and function of the floor of the mouth.1 The lingual flange rests in the alveololingual sulcus, which has an S-shaped curve that extends from the lingual frenum to the premylohyoid fossa and then curves medially from the body of the mandible to the retromylohyoid fossa.A sectional precontoured metal matrix to improve the pontic contour and emergence profile for fiber-reinforced composite resin fixed dental prostheses
Fixed dental prostheses made with fiber-reinforced composite resin are a conservative and cost-effective option for replacing a missing tooth.1 This type of prosthesis can be fabricated directly or indirectly,2,3 but the direct technique is challenging and susceptible to error; in addition, shaping the pontic is difficult.4
