Flasking
technique
Bany Shipman,
D.M.D.,*
Medical
H
and Jack Bader””
College of Virginia,
istorically,
wood
for large facial prostheses
Richmond,
or metal
Va.
flasks have
been
used to processlarge facial prostheses.Conventional complete denture flasks, although excellent for small facial prosthesessuch as nosesor ears, are too small to allow the flasking of a large composite facial prosthesis. Innovative adaptations, such as cardboard boxes, custom-made metal flasks, or no flasksat all, present major problems with preservation of the master cast, reusability of the flask, or fracture during processing(Fig. 1). Flasking techniques using large C-clamps or wood and metal visesusually destroy the master cast and offer poor distribution of forces to the flask. Direct flaskto-cast
or flask-to-flask
contact
is essential
for a
thin, distortion-free prosthesis. FLAWING
MATERIALS
Fig. 1. Four assorted containers capable of being used as flasks for composite facial prostheses.
AND PROCEDURES
Inexpensive plastic pipe is a readily obtainable item. The inner diameters can vary from 2 to 12 inches and will generally accommodate any size facial prosthesis(Fig. 2). Lengths can be cut on an electric band saw or by hand. The height of the prosthesis will predetermine this dimension (Fig. 3). With the low cost of the pipe flask material, there is no need to remove the castsfrom the flask. The flaskscontaining the castscan be stored asone piece, modified when necessary,and reused at any time. GIANT
FACIAL PRESS
To preserve the master castsand to securea fine, well-adapted, distortion-free prostheses,it is necessary to utilize equal, evenly distributed forces. This can be accomplished by constructing a simple low-cost giant press. The component parts consist of four 3 foot long, 5/rinch in diameter steel rods, connected to four 16 X 16 X H inch steel plates, *Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofaci surguy. l *CcrtiSed Dental Technician, Department of Oral and MaxilJ facial Surgery.
114
JULY 1979
VOLUME
42
NUMBER
1
Fig. 2. The composite facial prosthesis waxed and lIaskedin a pipe flask. one mounted above a small automobile hydraulic jack, serving as the movable pressplate (Fig. 4). CONCLUSION By utilizing the giant pressand the plastic pipe flask, large facial prosthesescan be flasked and 002%3913/79/070114
+ 02$00.20/0
0 1979
The C. V. Morby
Co.
FLAWING
LARGE FACIAL
Fig. 3. flasks.
PROSTHESES
The S-inch and d-inch pipe flasks are larger in size than conventional
metal denture
processed to allow thin, well-adapted margins without distortion. The plastic flask is easily stored for a remake of the prosthesisat a future date if it should be necessary. Refrint
requests to:
DR. BARRY SHIPMAN MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA MCV STATION, Box 637 RICHMOND,
VA. 23298
Fig. 4. The giant press containing facial prosthesis.
THE JOURNAL
OF PROSTHETIC
DENTISTRY
a Basked composite
115
technique
Bany Shipman,
D.M.D.,*
Medical
H
and Jack Bader””
College of Virginia,
istorically,
wood
for large facial prostheses
Richmond,
or metal
Va.
flasks have
been
used to processlarge facial prostheses.Conventional complete denture flasks, although excellent for small facial prosthesessuch as nosesor ears, are too small to allow the flasking of a large composite facial prosthesis. Innovative adaptations, such as cardboard boxes, custom-made metal flasks, or no flasksat all, present major problems with preservation of the master cast, reusability of the flask, or fracture during processing(Fig. 1). Flasking techniques using large C-clamps or wood and metal visesusually destroy the master cast and offer poor distribution of forces to the flask. Direct flaskto-cast
or flask-to-flask
contact
is essential
for a
thin, distortion-free prosthesis. FLAWING
MATERIALS
Fig. 1. Four assorted containers capable of being used as flasks for composite facial prostheses.
AND PROCEDURES
Inexpensive plastic pipe is a readily obtainable item. The inner diameters can vary from 2 to 12 inches and will generally accommodate any size facial prosthesis(Fig. 2). Lengths can be cut on an electric band saw or by hand. The height of the prosthesis will predetermine this dimension (Fig. 3). With the low cost of the pipe flask material, there is no need to remove the castsfrom the flask. The flaskscontaining the castscan be stored asone piece, modified when necessary,and reused at any time. GIANT
FACIAL PRESS
To preserve the master castsand to securea fine, well-adapted, distortion-free prostheses,it is necessary to utilize equal, evenly distributed forces. This can be accomplished by constructing a simple low-cost giant press. The component parts consist of four 3 foot long, 5/rinch in diameter steel rods, connected to four 16 X 16 X H inch steel plates, *Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofaci surguy. l *CcrtiSed Dental Technician, Department of Oral and MaxilJ facial Surgery.
114
JULY 1979
VOLUME
42
NUMBER
1
Fig. 2. The composite facial prosthesis waxed and lIaskedin a pipe flask. one mounted above a small automobile hydraulic jack, serving as the movable pressplate (Fig. 4). CONCLUSION By utilizing the giant pressand the plastic pipe flask, large facial prosthesescan be flasked and 002%3913/79/070114
+ 02$00.20/0
0 1979
The C. V. Morby
Co.
FLAWING
LARGE FACIAL
Fig. 3. flasks.
PROSTHESES
The S-inch and d-inch pipe flasks are larger in size than conventional
metal denture
processed to allow thin, well-adapted margins without distortion. The plastic flask is easily stored for a remake of the prosthesisat a future date if it should be necessary. Refrint
requests to:
DR. BARRY SHIPMAN MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA MCV STATION, Box 637 RICHMOND,
VA. 23298
Fig. 4. The giant press containing facial prosthesis.
THE JOURNAL
OF PROSTHETIC
DENTISTRY
a Basked composite
115
