Dent-Line - Fall 1999 Dent-Liner

The Dent-Liner
Volume 3 Issue 3 Fall 1999

A BULLETIN DEALING WITH ISSUES FOR DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Inside This Issue

1. Retrievable Bridges with Tap and Screw

2. Hands on Porcelain to Metal Workshop

3. Third Annual Future of Dentistry Survey

Retrievable Bridges

Bredent Tap and Drill Set
The drill kit consists of 10 pieces which includes 2 taps, 4 drills, a screw driver, tap holder and two titanium screws.

For more information, call
1-800-250-5111 or e-mail us at info@dent-line.com.

In cases were retrievably is required, the Bridge Sectioning Attachment can be utilized. This attachment can be used mesially or distally to an abutment. In this example we would crown the upper cuspid and bridge to the 2nd molar, with an implant located in the 2nd bicuspid area. The bridge sectioning attachment is a cylindrical, vertical plastic tube. It can be adjusted to fit the gingiva. Using the paralleling mandrel place the sectioning attachment mesially to the waxed up molar and distally to the cuspid. After casting, the section connecting the attachment is rounded with a cylindrical cutter to provide mass to the super structure. Using the Bredent drill and tap tool kit select the center drill and create the entering point on the lingual of the attachment. This is to start the drill and prevent traveling. Take the multi-drill (1.2x5) from the tool set and drill a hole approximately 2 mm long using the point of entry. The generous amount of Bredent milling oil prevents the drill from over heating and breaking. Next use the stop drill (1.2x2) to drill the threaded hole precisely to the required depth. After this procedure a countersinking drill is used to widen the hole to 1.4 mm for the threaded tap and provide space for the conical screw head of the titanium screw. In the next stage the pre-tap, taps the first stage of the thread. The finial tap, taps a high precision thread. Milling oil prevents the tap from jamming.. The titanium screw is screwed in to the sectioning attachment on both cuspid and molar. The conical screw head fits into the attachment by .03 mm. This withstands higher shear forces than with conventional screws (155 kg). The screw head will be exposed and should extend out lingually. It should now be lubricated and modeling resin Pi Ku Plast is applied around the attachment and screw integrating the screw into the pattern. The implant abutment will utilise the Security Lock System which will be discussed in a future issue. Then the bridge is waxed incorporating the resin pattern. Using the screw diver from the kit, un screw the titanium screws from both the molar and cuspid and set them aside. After fitting the bridge superstructure to the crowns, screw the titanium screws back in to check the integrity of the fit. The screws can be cut down and contoured to fit the anatomy that is required. The minimal dimensions and lingual application provide pleasant aesthetics for all screw retained restorations.
Source; Peter T. Pontsa RDT. For more information on any bredent products mentioned please call Dent-Line at 1-800-250-5111 or e-mail us at info@dent-line.com.

Hands on Porcelain to Metal Workshop
Peter Pontsa, RDT and Mr. Roger Picard, td cfc rdt, will be presenting a continuing education program "Harmonizing Porcelain to Metal with Hollow Pontics". This two day hands on workshop will be on November 19th and 20th and will take place at the George Brown College Dental Technology Facilities. The course will discuss how to increase the retentive area for porcelain while creating stress free bridges. Participants will learn how bridge design will provide homogeneous balance between metal and porcelain with predictable co- efficient of expansion. The course will cover profitability by incor- porating the procedures in the laboratory. Day one will take technicians through theory with Peter Pontsa, RDT. On day two Roger Picard,td cfc rdt, will instruct proper porcelain application utilising Finesse low fusing porcelain. The College of Dental Technologist of Ontario rate a two day hands on workshop as 24 credits. For more information call 1-800-250-5111 or 514-270-1922.

Third Annual Future of Dentistry Survey
During the third annual dentists survey the Dental Industry Association of Canada asked many questions on various issues. Most interesting was the anticipated usage trends for specific dental laboratory product categories. Products expected to increase were All-Ceramic Crowns (66.6%) and Ceramic Veneers (60.4%) as they were in 1997 and 1998. All-ceramic Crowns had a real increase of 10.2% over the last three years, while Ceramic Veneers has risen 10.1% since 1998. Few dentist expect these two product categories to decrease, showing readings of 2.5% and 2.25% respectfully (similar to results achieved in both 1997 and 1998). At worst they expect them to remain the same. However a small percentage (11.5% for All-Ceramic Crowns and 9.4% for Ceramic Veneers) do not place this type of restoration. There is a second grouping of products that include Hybrid Ceramic Composites Restorations (a new category for 1999) with 50 % of Dentist expecting increased volume Implant Supported Crowns (49.5% (down from number 1), Implant-supported Bridges (44.1%), Athletic Mouth Guards (42.6%) (up from number 5), All-Ceramic Bridges (42.5%), Ceramic Inlays/Onlays (40.2%), Implant supported Full Dentures (39%) and Indirect Composite Inlays/Onlays (28%). These percentages are generally similar to those given in last year's survey. Again, few dentists expect these products to decline with responses ranging from 0.7% to 7.1%. However, there are sizable percentages of dentists who state they do not place certain products such as CAD-CAM Restorations at 71 %, Sleep Apnea Appliances (49.3%), All-Ceramic Bridges (41.3%), Indirect Composite Inlays/Onlays (39.3%) and Partial dentures (38.5%). In these product categories, it appears the dentists either provide the restorative option or they do not. The exception is Athletic Mouth Guards where most dentists expect to do more or, the same volume over the next two years with less than 1% expecting to do fewer prosthesis. Only a few products are expected to actually decrease in volume with Full Dentures having the highest percentage of respondents (24.1%). This is followed closely by Porcelain Fused to metal at 23.1%, Partial Dentures at (16.8%) and gold Inlays/Onlays (14.6%). These percentages are in the same range as results for the last two years. Products expected to remain the same as with previous years, are Partial Dentures, Athletic Mouth Guards and Full Dentures are most likely to remain at the same volume in the opinion of the respondents. Closely followed by Porcelain Fused to Metal (43.4%). It should be noted that this category elicited a mixed response with nearly one quarter of respondents either predicting that Porcelain Fused to Metal restorations usage will increase or decrease. This may tie into the aging patient population as a rational for the increase and the move to all-ceramic restorations explaining the decrease. Removable Orthodontic Appliances show a similar pattern with 43.5% of dentists saying usage will remain the same while 26.2% stated that they did no Removable Appliances. Source D.I.A.C.

The Dent-liner; Vol. 3, No. 3
Publisher: Peter T. Pontsa RDT
Editor: A. Van Breemen BA
E-Mail: info@dent-line.com