A comparison of crown preparation grading via PrepCheck versus grading by dental school instructors.

Recent reports in the literature demonstrate the influence that digital dentistry is having on the preclinical training of dental students. However, none of these articles have discussed the use of PrepCheck (Sirona Dental Systems) in the evaluation of preparation taper in a preclinical environment. The present study compared the subjective grading of student tooth preparations by experienced, well-calibrated faculty with objective digital grading of the same preparations by means of the PrepCheck software.

The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part IV.

This fourth and final part of a four-part series concerned with the development of nonanatomic denture occlusion follows nonanatomic tooth design from the time of Victor Sears' first nonanatomic tooth patent through the end of the 20th century. Part IV concentrates on nonanatomic teeth developed during the last five decades of the 20th century. Many of the designs featured in this series exhibited genius, while others are pure nonsense.

The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part II.

This second part of a four-part series concerned with the development of nonanatomic denture occlusion follows nonanatomic tooth design from the time of Victor Sears' first nonanatomic tooth patent through the mid-1930s. Many of the designs featured in this series exhibit genius, while others are pure nonsense. Sears claimed that a new nonanatomic tooth design appeared every 9 months on average during the first 30 years of nonanatomic tooth production.

The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part III.

Part III of this four-part series about nonanatomic denture tooth development traces the evolution of this movement from the mid-1930s through the World War II era up to the early 1950s. By this time, the general preference for posterior denture occlusion had shifted from anatomic to nonanatomic teeth, and all the major denture tooth manufacturing companies listed at least one nonanatomic design in their inventories.

The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion - Part I.

Part I of this two-part article concentrates on the early 20th century origin of the nonanatomic concept of complete denture occlusion. It focuses on Dr. Victor Sears, who in 1922 made a courageous departure from convention when he introduced the design for his "Chewing Members.

Marginal Fit Comparison of CAD/CAM Crowns Milled from Two Different Materials.

Purpose: To evaluate the marginal fit of CAD/CAM copings milled from hybrid ceramic (Vita Enamic) blocks and lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) blocks, and to evaluate the effect of crystallization firing on the marginal fit of lithium disilicate copings.

Materials And Methods: A standardized metal die with a 1-mm-wide shoulder finish line was imaged using the CEREC AC Bluecam.

The Development of Lingualized Occlusion.

This article is a historical review of the development of the lingualized occlusion concept over the past century. It focuses on the pioneers of lingualized occlusion and their designs rather than on techniques for achieving a lingualized complete denture occlusion.

The Contributions of Dr. Alfred Gysi.

This article is a historical overview of Dr. Alfred Gysi's contributions to the profession in the areas of denture tooth and articulator design. His understanding of occlusion and mandibular movement resulted in denture tooth designs and occlusal concepts still in widespread use.

Canine guidance via Biogeneric Copy: a clinical report.

The advent of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in dentistry has enabled a wide range of applications. The Cerec Acquisition Center (Cerec AC, Sirona Dental Systems Inc., Charlotte, NC) allows for the construction of all-porcelain restorations, either in-office or through a remote dental laboratory.

The History of Articulators: The Contributions of Rudolph L. Hanau and His Company-Part II.

This article is an historical overview of the Hanau Engineering Company from the time of Rudolph Hanau's death in 1930 to the present. It explores the development of many articulators intended both for removable and fixed prosthodontic restorations. The article is divided into the eras of the company's corporate history, and it reviews articulator designs and major improvements made during each of those periods.

Adjusting dental ceramics: An in vitro evaluation of the ability of various ceramic polishing kits to mimic glazed dental ceramic surface.

Statement Of Problem: During the insertion appointment, the practitioner is often faced with the need to adjust ceramic surfaces to fit a restoration to the adjacent or opposing dentition and soft tissues.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the ceramic surface smoothness achieved with various commercially available ceramic polishing kits on different commonly used ceramic systems. The reliability of the cost of a polishing kit as an indicator of improved surface smoothness was assessed.

The History of Articulators: The Wonderful World of "Grinders," Part III.

This is the third article in a three-part series on the history of denture occlusal grinders. The first article reviewed the earliest attempts to "grind in" denture occlusion by hand manipulating simple articulators with special features to those more complex devices powered by hand cranks. The second article explored devices that were motor driven, either those with cast holders to grind the occlusion of processed dentures or those designed to utilize an articulator's condylar or incisal controls for that purpose.

Retention of CAD/CAM all-ceramic crowns on prefabricated implant abutments: an in vitro comparative study of luting agents and abutment surface area.

Purpose: Previous studies considering retention of cast metal restorations to implant abutments incorporated some degree of frictional fit due to internal surface nodules and roughness of the restoration. In comparison, CAD/CAM restorations have minimal surface irregularities, possibly impacting retention. There is insufficient knowledge of retentive force of CAD/CAM restorations to titanium abutments, and therefore the topic warrants further investigation.

The history of articulators: the wonderful world of "grinders," Part 2.

This is the second article in a three-part series on the history of denture grinding devices. The first article reviewed the earliest attempts to mechanically grind the occlusion of artificial teeth from the manipulation of simple articulators to very elaborate and complex machines powered by hand cranks. This article explores motor-driven grinders, most driven by way of a belt-driven pulley powered by an external source.

Lingualized occlusion revisited.

Lingualized occlusion represents an established method for the development of functional and esthetic complete denture articulation. Since its introduction, the lingualized technique has undergone many changes. This article provides an overview of the history and development of lingualized occlusion, and addresses common misconceptions associated with the lingualized technique.

The history of articulators: the Contributions of Rudolph L. Hanau and his company--part I.

This article is a historical review of the last decade of Rudolph Hanau's life. It covers his introduction to dentistry and explores his prolific articulator designs and contributions to the prosthodontic literature.

The history of articulators: the "Articulator Wars" phenomenon with some circumstances leading up to it.

At the dawn of the 20th century, all was not well with the practice of "plate prostheses." Removable prosthodontics had been degrading for several decades and was now generally in low esteem, even though there had been many significant advances. W.

Force needed to separate acrylic resin from primed and unprimed frameworks of different designs.

Purpose: Poor mechanical and chemical bondings at the interface between a framework and denture base resin have been responsible for many removable partial denture failures. This study tested the force necessary to separate acrylic resin bases from test frameworks using different acrylic retention designs (smooth metal plate, metal plate with bead retention, lattice retention, and mesh retention). The force needed to separate acrylic resin from primed test frameworks was also measured.

In vitro tensile bond strength of denture repair acrylic resins to primed base metal alloys using two different processing techniques.

Purpose: Approximately 38% of removable partial denture (RPD) failures involve fracture at the alloy/acrylic interface. Autopolymerizing resin is commonly used to repair RPDs. Poor chemical bonding of repair acrylic to base metal alloys can lead to microleakage and failure of the bond.

Wear testing of composite, gold, porcelain, and enamel opposing a removable cobalt-chromium partial denture alloy.

Purpose: Eighty percent of all removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks are fabricated from cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys. The advantages of this material include low density and high modulus of elasticity, hardness, and strength. Hardness is of particular concern when related to excessive wear of natural teeth or restorative materials.

Restoration of the severely compromised maxilla using the multi-cup denture.

Among the millions of edentulous Americans, a persistent minority have not been able to tolerate wearing dentures. Complicating factors may have precluded surgical intervention with grafts or dental implants to improve the physical and anatomic limitations of these unfortunate patients. A heat-cured polymer liner containing multiple small suction cups has been used for decades to successfully restore many such debilitated individuals.

Effect of abutment angulation on the strain on the bone around an implant in the anterior maxilla: a finite element study.

Statement Of Problem: Angled abutments are often used to restore dental implants placed in the anterior maxilla due to esthetic or spatial needs. The effect of abutment angulation on bone strain is unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to measure and compare the strain distribution on the bone around an implant in the anterior maxilla using 2 different abutments by means of finite element analysis.

Short-term success of osseointegrated dental implants in HIV-positive individuals: a prospective study.

Purpose: Except for the occasional case report, there are no studies evaluating the success rate of osseointegrated dental implants in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study investigated the short-term clinical outcome of implant placement in a group of HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals who required complete dentures.

Methods And Materials: Edentulous subjects were recruited from an HIV-dedicated clinic and a dental school clinic.

Full-body impression technique for conjoined twins: A clinical report.

This clinical report describes a unique impression technique devised for fabrication of a full-body cast of conjoined twins. The authors describe how the cast was used by the medical team to plan the surgical flap design for effective abdominal wall closure during the 27-hour operation sequence that resulted in the twins' separation. The cast, in turn, proved invaluable in planning the complicated surgical procedures necessary to separate them.