Antonelli John, Hottel Timothy L, Siegel Sharon C, Darnell Laura
Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division, College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
J Tenn Dent Assoc. 2011 Spring;91(2):17-21; quiz 22-3.
When the goal of restorative treatment is to maintain the patient's preexisting intercuspation and occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) following tooth preparation for crowns or fixed partial dentures (FPDs), casts must be mounted on an articulator in the same pretreatment tooth-to-tooth relationship. A simple technique is described that uses acrylic transfer copings over prepared teeth to record and preserve this relationship so that working and opposing casts can be mounted accurately. The technique may be used to recapture the lost third leg of the tripod after teeth have been prepared. To further reduce errors when mounting casts onto an articulator, a method is recommended that uses rigid connectors to join and stabilize casts in a manner that minimizes potential movement during placement and setting expansion of gypsum mounting materials.