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IMPROVING OCCLUSION IN
REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES:
MODIFIED FLASKING PROCEDURES
Michelle Roberta Vieira Silva, DDS1
Leonardo Marchini, DDS, MSD, PhD2,3
Vicente de Paula Prisco da Cunha, DDS, MSc, PhD2,3
Jarbas Francisco Fernandes dos Santos, DDS, MSD, PhD2,3
O
cclusion is an exhaustively studied factor bite” of dentures.3–6 Flasking and deflasking pro-
that should contribute to better perfor- cedures also contribute to occlusal alterations6,7 by
mance in removable prosthodontics and a modifying the position of artificial teeth in relation
good functional relation with the stomatognathic to the complete denture base or the metal frame-
components (muscles and temporomandibular work of removable partial dentures.
joints). Achieving adequate occlusion is important for For technical procedures involving removable
improving the patient’s comfort and satisfaction with partial dentures, alterations of teeth position in re-
the dentures.1,2 lation to the metal framework are allowed by plac-
Adequate occlusion is normally achieved in the ing the metal framework and artificial teeth on op-
artificial teeth waxup step. However, during the posite sides of the flask. This article presents a
normal technical procedures for acrylic resin poly- technique to minimize the occlusal alterations this
merization, polymerization shrinkage usually re- can cause by use of a plaster wall to fix the rela-
sults in movement of the artificial teeth. This tive position of the metal framework and teeth.
movement often leads to increased vertical di-
mensions, premature contacts, and anterior “open
1
Private practice, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNIQUE
2
School of Health Sciences, University of Vale do Paraíba, São
José dos Campos, SP, Brazil. The patient used herein to describe the technique
3
Department of Dentistry, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, already had a removable partial denture (RPD) in
Brazil. the maxillary arch. This RPD was well-adapted,
and the patient reported it felt comfortable. The
Correspondence to: Dr Leonardo Marchini, Av Adhemar de
Barros, 1136 Ap 153, 12245-010 São José dos Campos, SP, two canines were the only teeth remaining in the
Brazil. E-mail: leomarchini@directnet.com.br mandibular arch.
SILVA ET AL
1a 1b
Fig 2a The RPD is placed in the Fig 2b A wall made of type III plas- Fig 2c Buccal aspect of the plaster
flask base, which is filled with type II ter is built over the buccal surfaces wall. Note the channels made of
plaster. Note that wax is fixed over of the RPD and covers the artificial wax, with excess removed.
the buccal surfaces. This serves as a teeth completely. The lingual sur-
channel for the acrylic resin flow in a faces are not covered.
subsequent step.
After a preliminary impression was made with ir- was made over the buccal areas, covering the arti-
reversible hydrocolloid, and then delineating and ficial teeth completely. The lingual areas were not
RPD framework planning, fabrication, and set-up, covered with plaster (Figs 2b and 2c). All exposed
the intermaxillary record was made and the plaster surfaces had to be expulsive. They were
mandibular RPD mounted in a semiadjustable ar- then isolated, and the middle part of the flask was
ticulator for artificial teeth waxup. The RPD base placed and filled with type II plaster. After the
was not reinforced with resin, since that would plaster hardened, the flask was heated by immer-
have hindered processing the permanent base sion in boiling water. The flask was then opened,
later. and all the wax was removed with boiling water
The teeth waxup was tried in the mouth, and (Figs 3a and 3b). Note, in Fig 3b, that the teeth
the occlusion achieved approved by the patient and metal framework remained in the same rela-
and dentist (Fig 1a). The functional impression of tive position in the same part of the flask.
the edentulous ridge was made using zinc- Heat-activated acrylic resin was placed on the
eugenol paste and wax for border molding (Figs plaster wall, over the RPD framework and onto the
1a and 1b). The impressions were filled with type artificial teeth, and allowed to flow through the
III plaster. buccal sprues (Fig 3c). The flask was then closed,
The RPD was then placed in the base of the pressed under 1.5 tons of force (Fig 3d), and left
flask, after fixing sprues in the buccal areas for the in a water bath at 72ºC for 12 hours to polymerize
acrylic resin flow (Fig 2a). A wall of plaster (type III) the acrylic resin.
3c 3d
4c 4d
The deflasking procedures (Figs 4a and 4b) were The occlusal scheme obtained during the artifi-
carried out carefully, making sure the RPD base was cial teeth waxup was now visible in the acrylic den-
adequate (Fig 4b). The wax flow channels in the buc- tures (Fig 4d), and no major occlusal adjustments
cal area had now turned into acrylic resin and were were required.
removed during the finishing procedures (Fig 4c).
SILVA ET AL