A technique for finishing and polishing denture bases William A. Welker, D.D.S., M.S.D.,* Donald C. Kramer, D.D.S., M.S.,** and Roger W. Mercer*** 19SAF Medical Genter, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
A
common complaint of denture wearers is that they are unable to keep their dentures clean and free of stains. This results from improper home care by the patient or improper finishing and polishing of the art portion of the dentures. To alleviate this common complaint patients should receive explicit instructions in home care, and dentures should be finished and polished so that they are free of all surface scratches and imperfections. When the dentures are properly finished food debris will not be trapped on the surface, thus preventing objectionable odor, and taste and an unsightly appearance. The following technique has proven successful in producing blemish-free dentures.
Fig. 1. A chisel is used to remove acrylic resin flash, artificial stone, and nodules.
MATERIALS A N D M E T H O D 1. Deflask the dentures and remove the resin flash from the borders. 2. Use chisels to remove excess acrylic resin or stone from around the necks of the teeth (Fig. 1). T h e chisels should include one with a right bevel, one with a left bevel, and one with a fine point. T h e y are easily made from old dental hand instruments. 3. Smooth the interproximal spaces, papillae, and rugae area with a soft bristle brush~ and flour of pumice (Fig. 2 ) . Large brushes and rag wheels destroy the anatomy and should not be used. 4. Polish the cervical surface of each artificial tooth with a rubber polishing cup (Fig. 3).:~ This will produce a smooth surface at the junction of the tooth and the acrylic resin, a. region most difficult for patients to keep clean. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the veiws of the U. S. Air Force or the Department of Defense. *Colonel, USAF (DC). **Colonel, USAF (DC) (Ret.), ***Dental Laboratory Technician. tWilliam Dixon Go., Carlstadt,"N. J. ~:Young Dental Mfg. Go., Maryland Heights, Mo.
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FEBRUARY1978 VOLUME39
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Fig. 2. A bristle brush is used to smooth the interprox~ imal acrylic resin. 5. Remove scratches from the borders with a large rag wheel and pumice. 6. Lightly buff the remainder of the denture base with the rag wheel and pumice. Light pressure will not destroy the anatomy or the .tinting of the denture base. 7. Rinse the denture in water to remove the pumice, thoroughly dry, and inspect for remaining imperfections. I f imperfections are visible repeat the rag wheel and pumice procedure.
0022-3913/78/0239-0240500.20/0 @The C. V. MosbyCo.
TECHNIQUE FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING DENTURE BASES
Fig. 3. A rubber cup and pumice are used to smooth the cervical acrylic. 8. Hard-to-reach regions, such as the curve of the palate, the rugae area, and the lingual surfaces of lower incisors and canines, are smoothed with midget rubber points* followed by pumice applied on a small cotton point made by winding cotton on a suitable used bur (Figs. 4 and 5). 9. Wash the dentures thoroughly with soap and water, dry, and inspect the base material under magnification. All denture surfaces, with the exce p tion of the basal seat area, should present a smooth eggshell texture free of imperfections; if not the previous steps must be repeated. 10. Apply Ti-gloss~" to a new rag wheel and lightly buff the denture surfaces. 11. Wash and dry the denture and again inspect it for imperfections. Small, hard-to-reach imperfections are now removed with the r u b b e r points and the cotton points using Ti-gloss. 12. Use Ti-gleemt on a rag wheel with a light buffing action to produce a final high shine. Denture bases finished by this technique will produce highly polished surfaces free from all imperfections. The denture bases will remain free of stains and odors with normal home care.
Fig. 4. Tan midget points are used to smooth acrylic resin in hard-to-reach areas.
Fig. 5. Cotton points are used to place pumice in regions of difficult access. This method is not time consuming if followed i n the outlined step-by-step procedure. However, the speed and ease with which the bases are finished and polished is directly proportional to how well the waxup and processing were accomplished. Reprint requests to: DR. WILLIAM A. WELKER 4053 FOREST RIDGE BLVD. DAYTON, O~Io 45424
*Dedeco, Brooklyn, N. Y. tTiconium Co., Albany, N. Y.
THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY
241
A
common complaint of denture wearers is that they are unable to keep their dentures clean and free of stains. This results from improper home care by the patient or improper finishing and polishing of the art portion of the dentures. To alleviate this common complaint patients should receive explicit instructions in home care, and dentures should be finished and polished so that they are free of all surface scratches and imperfections. When the dentures are properly finished food debris will not be trapped on the surface, thus preventing objectionable odor, and taste and an unsightly appearance. The following technique has proven successful in producing blemish-free dentures.
Fig. 1. A chisel is used to remove acrylic resin flash, artificial stone, and nodules.
MATERIALS A N D M E T H O D 1. Deflask the dentures and remove the resin flash from the borders. 2. Use chisels to remove excess acrylic resin or stone from around the necks of the teeth (Fig. 1). T h e chisels should include one with a right bevel, one with a left bevel, and one with a fine point. T h e y are easily made from old dental hand instruments. 3. Smooth the interproximal spaces, papillae, and rugae area with a soft bristle brush~ and flour of pumice (Fig. 2 ) . Large brushes and rag wheels destroy the anatomy and should not be used. 4. Polish the cervical surface of each artificial tooth with a rubber polishing cup (Fig. 3).:~ This will produce a smooth surface at the junction of the tooth and the acrylic resin, a. region most difficult for patients to keep clean. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the veiws of the U. S. Air Force or the Department of Defense. *Colonel, USAF (DC). **Colonel, USAF (DC) (Ret.), ***Dental Laboratory Technician. tWilliam Dixon Go., Carlstadt,"N. J. ~:Young Dental Mfg. Go., Maryland Heights, Mo.
240
FEBRUARY1978 VOLUME39
NUMBER2
Fig. 2. A bristle brush is used to smooth the interprox~ imal acrylic resin. 5. Remove scratches from the borders with a large rag wheel and pumice. 6. Lightly buff the remainder of the denture base with the rag wheel and pumice. Light pressure will not destroy the anatomy or the .tinting of the denture base. 7. Rinse the denture in water to remove the pumice, thoroughly dry, and inspect for remaining imperfections. I f imperfections are visible repeat the rag wheel and pumice procedure.
0022-3913/78/0239-0240500.20/0 @The C. V. MosbyCo.
TECHNIQUE FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING DENTURE BASES
Fig. 3. A rubber cup and pumice are used to smooth the cervical acrylic. 8. Hard-to-reach regions, such as the curve of the palate, the rugae area, and the lingual surfaces of lower incisors and canines, are smoothed with midget rubber points* followed by pumice applied on a small cotton point made by winding cotton on a suitable used bur (Figs. 4 and 5). 9. Wash the dentures thoroughly with soap and water, dry, and inspect the base material under magnification. All denture surfaces, with the exce p tion of the basal seat area, should present a smooth eggshell texture free of imperfections; if not the previous steps must be repeated. 10. Apply Ti-gloss~" to a new rag wheel and lightly buff the denture surfaces. 11. Wash and dry the denture and again inspect it for imperfections. Small, hard-to-reach imperfections are now removed with the r u b b e r points and the cotton points using Ti-gloss. 12. Use Ti-gleemt on a rag wheel with a light buffing action to produce a final high shine. Denture bases finished by this technique will produce highly polished surfaces free from all imperfections. The denture bases will remain free of stains and odors with normal home care.
Fig. 4. Tan midget points are used to smooth acrylic resin in hard-to-reach areas.
Fig. 5. Cotton points are used to place pumice in regions of difficult access. This method is not time consuming if followed i n the outlined step-by-step procedure. However, the speed and ease with which the bases are finished and polished is directly proportional to how well the waxup and processing were accomplished. Reprint requests to: DR. WILLIAM A. WELKER 4053 FOREST RIDGE BLVD. DAYTON, O~Io 45424
*Dedeco, Brooklyn, N. Y. tTiconium Co., Albany, N. Y.
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