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Fall 2000

A BULLETIN DEALING WITH ISSUES FOR DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Inside This Issue
1. Locking Pin Snap System
2. Research on VKS Attachments
3. Tiger Gets Root Canal

Locking Pin System

LockPinELocking Pin Snap E

The Locking Pin Snap E incorporates metal parts made of titanium. The bio-compatible plastic female provides long service life and soft snap friction.

The bar type over denture is fast becoming one of the most common treatment modalities prescribed to date. Although these bars improve retention, they unfortunately are vulnerable to “Lift Off” in side to side or anterior to posterior movements. The best solution so far is a locking pin system which engages the bar through a hole in the bar or through the cantilevered extension. The Locking Pin E from Bredent will prevent Lift Off even with a Class III occlusion and also prevent lateral movements which often creates sore spots. The Locking Pin E can also be utilized in existing cases where the initial retention has failed, such as on an existing implant bar and also removable partial dentures, such as in bilateral cases. The Bredent Locking Pin E (made of titanium) can be glued to metal or set in to acrylic, where as the Locking Pin A (a gold alloy) can be waxed in and cast to the bar. The soft resin supported guidance sleeve results in a soft snap of the locking pin when the locking pin is in the closed position. Also upon opening, the snap indicates to the patient that the lock is completely open and the denture can be removed.In a typical case we used the Locking Pin E on a maxillary with four implants. They were placed in areas 13, 23 and 15 and 25. Plastic UCLA castable cylinders were fitted to Bredent wax bars (1x6x8mm) to create a one piece bar. The bar was cast and fitted to the model. The areas between 13 & 15 plus 23 & 25 were selected for pin placement. The position of the locking pin is determined with the Bredent HM centre drill, with it a small depression is prepared. Then the Bredent Mutli-Drill 1.5 mm is used to drill completely through utilizing the Bredent milling & drilling oil to reduce heat and the drill bit from jamming. The modeling pin E is inserted into the drilled hole up the stop. This pin contains the locking pin housing which is integrated in the over bar chrome casting using Bredent Pi-Ku Plast modeling resin. Once set the rest of the chrome casting superstructure is waxed. After completion of the pattern the modeling pin E is removed by turning slightly with a pair of pliers leaving the housing integrated into the pattern. Once cast the chrome cobalt framework and locking pin housing is sandblasted with 100 micron Al. Ox2. Bredent FGP Insulating Liquid is applied, 2 to 3 mm around the pin hole, the contact area of the locking pin on the superstructure , the locking pin stud and pin sleeve and contact areas where the adhesive may flow. The over denture bar and chrome casting are assembled. A drop of the Bredent DTK adhesive is evenly spread in the hole on the bar and chrome casting. The locking pin sleeve is covered with a thin layer of DTK adhesive and pressed into the chrome casting / bar assembly. Excess adhesive residue is removed after hardening (12 minutes or 5 minutes with UV light). After eight hours the locking pin can be exposed to the stresses of opening and closing. The case is then finished to the standards of practice. Locking Pin A or Locking Pin E, whichever locking pin attachment system you use, is an effective alternative to traditional over denture bar attachments. They also ensure predictable stability and retention by preventing lift off. This results in a prosthesis with superior function and comfort for the patient through reliable lab products.
Source: Peter T. Pontsa, R.D.T.

Bredent Products used in this case description:

Locking Pin Snap E 44000652
Locking Pin Snap A 44000654
HM Centre Drill 33000660
Diatit Multi-Drill 33000730
Milling & Drilling Oil 55000008
Wax Bars 1x6x8mm 43002650
PiKuPlast Model Resin 54000173
FGP Insulating Liquid 54001027
DTK Metal Adhesive 54000106

Research Information on VKS

Latest findings have shown that in a very limited number of cases, deposits may be formed on natural teeth, dentures and fixed restorations in the oral environment. If, due to insufficient oral hygiene, these crystals are not removed, some exceptional cases of inclusion of these crystals in the surface of the plastic matrix might result. This leads to an abrasive effect on the stud of the patrix resulting in the possible loss of snap. Very rare cases of this unexplained and previously unknown phenomenon have been reported for the Stud-Snap attachments sold (1 of 5000 patients). Extended service life of the Vario-Stud Snap attachment is only ensured, if a transverse force distributor with interlock in a 0o milling has been prepared by the dental technician. Accordingly Bredent recommends the exclusive use of hard alloys (450 VH) and to clean the teeth, the denture and the fixed restoration two times a day as well as to have them regularly checked by the dentist. To ensure perfect function of the Vario-Stud-snap attachment, it is necessary that the patient searches the snap point with his/her finger when inserting the denture and locks it by pressing on it with his finger.
Source: Bredent Research Department

Dentist gives Siberian Tiger a Root Canal

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Corpus Christi dentist Haysam Dawod has had patients growl at him before, but never like this. Dawod performed a root canal Tuesday night on Thor, a 400-pound Siberian tiger from the Corpus Christi Zoo. Thor really didn’t want to go to the dentist. It took five men to drug the reluctant feline and drag him into Dawod’s dental office. “He’s not one happy camper,” Dawod said. It all started last week when Thor snapped his right lower canine after it got stuck in a fence. Thor was able to tolerate the pain of an exposed nerve, but couldn’t eat his usual ration of quartered cow carcasses, said Steve Dornin, Thor’s owner and trainer. Dawod had never worked on animals before, but volunteered for the dangerous task after one of his patients, a zoo volunteer, asked him because veterinarians don’t specialize in dentistry. After getting the tiger into a room in the dentist’s office, veterinarian Steven Lee tried to put a gas mask on Thor, but the tiger wanted no part of it and tried to leave. “Easy, Thor, easy,” Dornin said, as others cleared out of the way. He made a bigger gas mask from an empty gallon milk jug and packing tape, and was able to sedate the tiger. For nearly two hours, Dawod, Dornin and Lee worked in short intervals, sedating the cat about every 10 minutes. Dawod said it went well, but Thor will probably be cranky for several days. The tiger will be fitted later for a gold cap. “I’ve had some patients that have had the characteristics of a tiger, but never a tiger,” Dawod said. “Hopefully, this will be my first and last.”
Source: Texas News, Thursday April 2, 1998