Scribd
Upload
10 views3 pages

Boxing Techniques for Dental Impressions

This document describes a technique for quickly boxing dental impressions using an irreversible hydrocolloid. The key steps are: 1. Select a boxing form that extends beyond the impression borders. Mount the impression on the form with blockout material. 2. Seal the form with tape and vacuum-spatulate a watery mix of irreversible hydrocolloid into the form around the impression. 3. Once set, trim the hydrocolloid and pour dental stone to make the working cast. The hydrocolloid provides support during casting without distorting thin impression borders.

Uploaded by

sandipladani
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views3 pages

Boxing Techniques for Dental Impressions

This document describes a technique for quickly boxing dental impressions using an irreversible hydrocolloid. The key steps are: 1. Select a boxing form that extends beyond the impression borders. Mount the impression on the form with blockout material. 2. Seal the form with tape and vacuum-spatulate a watery mix of irreversible hydrocolloid into the form around the impression. 3. Once set, trim the hydrocolloid and pour dental stone to make the working cast. The hydrocolloid provides support during casting without distorting thin impression borders.

Uploaded by

sandipladani
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ANALYSIS

OF FACIAL

SURFACE

UNDERCUTS

the gingival margin and are more than 1 mm in depth, an RPA clasp may be used (Fig. 3). 3. When tissue undercuts are less than 3 mm away from the gingival margin but are 1 mm or lessin depth, an RPI dasp may be used (Fig. 4). 4. When facial surfacesof teeth are equal to the tissue surface, an RPI clasp may be used (Fig. 5). 5. When facial surfacesof teeth are facial to the tissue surface, the RPA clasp may be used (Fig. 6).

REFERENCES
1. Krol AJ: Removable Partial Denture Design--Outline Syllabus, ed 3. San ;Francisco, Bookstore, Universrty of Pacific, School of Dentistry.

Reprint requests to:


DR. ARTHUR M LAVERE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SCHOLL OF DENXSTRY SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115

Quick bxipLg of impres&ons with irreversible hpdmcoliloid


Michael 0. HU, D.D.S.
Veterans Administration Wadsworth Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

arious methods, materials, and techniques to box impressions have been dcsaibed to (1) preserve flange contours, (2) regulate size and thickness of casts, (3) facili&ate pouring of cast materials, (4) preserve tissue contours of casts by minimixing exposure of casts to water by avoid& excessivetrimming, and (6) protect the borders of the impression with a land area. The ideal ,boxing technique and materials should (1) provide * borders without distorsupport $o tIltam! . tion, (2) be quick and easywith consistentresults, (3) be compatible with castmaterials and impression materials, and (4) be inexpensive. Stiphor describeda boxing technique and found that irreversible hydrocolloid was a compatible boxing medium with various impression materials. This article describesan irreversible hydrocolloid boxing technique using a boxing form tbat redueestbe amount of time and material necessary to box an impression while maintaining accurate borders. A thin, vacummed mix of irreversible hydrocolloid usesless material and permits pouring material around thin, unsupported impression borderswithout distortion. When the hydrocolloid sets, it adds support and minimizes potential distortion that may occur in adapting boxing materials of thicker consistency. In addition, becausethe boxing material can be easily and cleanly peeled away without damaging the impression, this boxing technique is especially suitable for impressions
Presented as a table clinic at the American Prosthodontic Society meeting, San Francisco, Calif. *Resident, Advanced Prosthodontic Program.
THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY

Fig. 1. Pouring boxing form.

that have occlusal rims with maxillomandibular relation records attached, as might be used for the severely medically compromised patient to decreasethe number of appointments necessary to fabricate complete dentures.
743

HAMADA

Fig. 2. Completed
adapted splint

boxing material.

form covered with vacuum-

Fig. 4. Mandibular

impression mounted on boxing form with blockout compound to prevent distal ends of impression from touching.

Fig. 3. Boxing form must be larger than impression.

PROCEDURE Boxing forms of various sizes can be made by pouring l-inch thick patties of quick-set plaster (Sybron/Kerr, Romulus, Mich) on a smooth glass or plastic slab, then trimming on a model trimmer to accommodate impressions of various sixes and shapes (Fig. 1). Splint material may be vacuum-formed over these boxing forms to protect the boxing form and to prevent the stone from sticking to be boxing materials, or the forms may be sprayed with silicone lubricant before each use (Fig. 2). 1. Select a boxing form that extends approximately /i inch beyond the borders of the final impression to be boxed (Fig. 3). 2. Mount the impression tissue-side up on the boxing form with blockout compound (Buffalo Dental Mfg. Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.) and position the flanges parallel to the boxing form. The retromolar pad area of a mandibular final impression should not rest on the boxing form

Fig. 5. Irreversible
boxed impression.

hydrocolloid

being poured into

to avoid distortion of the impression and to facilitate trimming of the irreversible hydrocolloid (Fig. 4). 3. Wet a strip of 3-inch wide adhesive packaging tape with water, wrap it around the base of the boxing form, and seal the tape to the boxing form with a wide rubber band. 4. Vacuum spatulate a watery mix of irreversible

744

DECEMBER

1986

VOLUME

56

NUMBER

QUICK

BOXING

OF IMPRESSIONS

with a &u-p knife. Excess hydrocokid is easily peeled fprnn the tissue side of the impression. 6. Retape the boxing form and vibrate vacuumspatulated stone into the boxed impnzssion. 7. After the stone has set, remove the boxing strip and peel away the irreversible hydrocolloid boxing material, leaving the impression attached to the master cast. 8. Trim the master cast with the impression in place to protect the tissue surface of the cast from abrasion and leave 4 to 6 mm of land area (Fig. 6). A disadvantage is that the irreversible hydrocolloid dehydrates rapidly and shrinks; thus when the hydrocolloid boxing material sets, it should be trimmed and the artificial stone poured for the cast in rapid succession.

REFERENCES
1. Heartwell Jr CM, Rabn AD: Syllabus of Complete Dentures, ed 8. Phifztdelpkia, 1980, Lea & Febiger, p 198. 2. Winkler S: Esseotials of Complete Denture Prosthodontics, ed 1. Philadelphia, 1979, WB Saunders Co, p 186. 3. Baucher Co: Swensons Comptete Dentures, ed 6. St. Louis, 1964, The CV Mosby Co, p 429. 4. Tautin Fs: Work simplification in boxing final impressions. J PlKBM$T &NT @656, 1983. 5. Powter RE, Hope M: A method of boxing impressions. J PI&W?-U&ThiBIT &?224, 1981. 6. Mora AF, Boone ME: Rapid boxing of impressions. J PRCXTHET DENT 6:583, 1983. 7. Bolouri A, Hiker TC, Govrylok MD. Boxing impressions. J PKWIiET DENT 33~692, 1975. 8. Grove HF, Brow&g LF: Impression boxing and cast pouring. J PR~~T~ET L&C 43: 112, 1980. 9. Mullick S: Boxing technique for rubber Ibase impressions. J hCxWHET DENT 46:461, 198 1. 10. Stipho HD: Boxing impressions with irreversible hydrocolloid. ,J PROSTHETBENT 53~740, 1985. Reprint reyuest~ to: DR. MICHAEL 0. HAMADA VETERANSADMINISTRATION WADSWORTHHOSPITU, CENTER Los ANGELES,CA 90073

Fig. 6. Completely trimmed and indexed casts with impression in place. A, Maxillary impression and cast. 6, Mandibular impression and cast.

hydrocolloid (two scoops with 150 ml water per arch) and pour it into the boxed forms, leaving 3 mm of lingual flange exposed on a mandibular impression and 3 mm of buccal flange exposed on a maxillary impression (Fig. 5). 5. Remove tape and trim the irreversible hydrocolloid

THE JOURNAL

OF PROSTHETIC

DENTISTRY

745

Common questions

Powered by AI

When choosing an RPA clasp, consider the depth of the gingival margin's undercuts and the facial surfaces of teeth. The RPA clasp is suitable when the tissue undercuts exceed 1 mm in depth and are positioned beneath the gingival margin, and when the facial surfaces of the teeth are more prominent than the tissue surface [Sourcce 1]. These criteria ensure that the clasp provides a secure fit and avoids interference with the soft tissue .

A potential disadvantage of using irreversible hydrocolloid as a boxing medium is its rapid dehydration and subsequent shrinkage if not handled swiftly. This necessitates the timely trimming of the hydrocolloid and casting of stone to avoid inaccuracies in the impression dimensions . Thus, the process requires efficiency to ensure accuracy before the material begins to distort due to dehydration .

Vacuum-spatulated mixing of irreversible hydrocolloid creates a smoother and more consistent material that can be thinly applied around delicate thinned borders of impressions without distortion . The vacuum process limits air entrapment which reduces bubble formation, ensuring accurate replication of dental structures and borders, and facilitating a more precise and stable cast preparation .

The choice between RPA and RPI clasps is influenced by the depth and position of tissue undercuts. When the tissue undercuts are more than 1 mm in depth and are located under the gingival margin, an RPA clasp is recommended . Conversely, if the tissue undercuts are less than 3 mm away from the gingival margin and 1 mm or less in depth, an RPI clasp is preferred . This distinction is based on ensuring optimal fit and retention by considering the geometry and contours of the soft tissue and surrounding structures.

An ideal boxing technique for dental impressions should offer support to the borders without causing distortion, be quick and easy with consistent results, compatible with both cast materials and impression materials, and be cost-effective . This ensures that the flange contours are preserved, the cast’s size and thickness are regulated, and distortion during the trimming and handling process is minimized .

To minimize distortion when boxing and pouring dental impressions using irreversible hydrocolloid, select a boxing form extending beyond the borders of the impression, mount the impression tissue-side up using blockout compound, and wrap with adhesive tape secured with a rubber band to stabilize it . A thin, vacuum-mixed hydrocolloid is poured into the boxing form; excess material is trimmed promptly as the hydrocolloid sets quickly and may shrink . Stone is then vibrated into the impression immediately to reduce time between hydrocolloid setting and stone pouring, preventing distortion due to dehydration .

Silicone lubricant is used in the boxing of dental impressions to prevent stone from adhering to the boxing materials, facilitating easy removal of the cast without damaging the impression . Applying it to the surfaces between the boxing form and the impression limits friction and aids in the clean separation of the set materials, preserving imprint integrity .

Positioning the boxing form correctly is key to preventing distortion in the final dental impression. Ensuring the boxing form is larger than the impression allows clearance, avoiding pressure on delicate structures such as the retromolar pad area . Elevating the impression on a boxing form without contact at critical areas facilitates easy trimming and prevents distortion from limp impressions being pressured unevenly during the casting process .

Irreversible hydrocolloid can be peeled away cleanly without damaging dental impressions due to its ability to set firmly while remaining flexible enough to separate easily from both the impression material and the set cast plaster . The material's compatibility with impression surfaces allows it to maintain border definition and prevent tearing or distortion upon removal .

The land area is crucial as it surrounds the impression borders to protect them from damage during trimming and provides a flat surface for accurate stone pouring . It preserves the tissue contours by minimizing exposure to water and helps distribute forces evenly during impression handling, reducing the potential for distortion . This land area also plays a role in maintaining the integrity of the impression throughout the subsequent casting process.

You might also like