Objective

To minimize any dissolution of the luting agent, a 1-mm-wide band of metal must be obtained that is closely adapted to the tooth surface.⁴ A defect within this zone can significantly reduce a restoration’s longevity. Good adaptation is obtained by carefully reflowing the wax pattern (Fig. 29-2). With careful standardization of technique, the dentist can achieve predictable and consistent results.

Fig. 29-2 Reflowing the wax pattern. The objective is to create a well-adapted 1-mm zone to prevent cement dissolution. Proper reflowing before investing is a prerequisite to accomplish this.

Procedure

If a defect occurs in the marginal area, the restoration must be remade. This may require an additional patient visit to make the new impression. Defects can be prevented or minimized by paying particular attention to reflowing the margins of the wax pattern and through careful investing (see Chapter 22).

Even small nodules can prevent a casting from seating completely. Careful examination under ample magnification helps identify interferences. Small nodules, if far enough away from the margin itself, can be removed under a binocular microscope with exceptionally cautious use of very small rotary instruments (e.g., a No. ¼ round bur). However, great care is needed to avoid damage to the margin and annoying remakes.

Objective

No contact should exist between the die and the internal surface (intaglio) of the casting. A uniform space of 25 to 35 μm is necessary for the luting agent to spread evenly. Any contacts must be identified and relieved by careful selective grinding of the internal surface.

Procedure

Under normal circumstances, a casting’s internal surface does not require finishing. It should, however, be examined for nodules (Fig. 29-3) before the restoration is seated on the die. Nodules can be removed with a small round carbide bur, which can be time consuming because it may need to be repeated several times. If the internal surface needs to be adjusted more than occasionally, the investing procedure should be reexamined for flaws.

Fig. 29-3 Nodules on a casting have resulted from improper investing. To enable complete seating of the casting, even small ones such as these must be removed entirely.

Even a very small nodule can result in significant increase of the marginal gap width (Fig. 29-4). A binocular microscope is especially helpful in identifying nodules. High-quality loupes can also be used. Great care should be exercised when seating a casting on its die. Any significant force will abrade or chip the die so that the casting will seat on the die but will not seat fully on the prepared tooth. Overlooking this at the cementation appointment will result in a restoration with open margins and a poor prognosis. If a casting does not seat, a nodule may have been overlooked and may have scratched the die, or a little stone may have been picked up in the process. Close examination of the internal surface of the casting or the axial walls of the die (Fig. 29-5) will reveal this. Corrective action is often relatively simple, and the casting may be acceptable. Care must be taken not to seat a faulty casting repeatedly, thereby abrading the die. After a die has been abraded by a casting, it should not be used for rewaxing a restoration. If rewaxing is necessary, a new impression is required.

Fig. 29-4 A relatively small nodule (arrow) results in a substantial open margin.

Fig. 29-5 A, Internal surface of a casting. Note the stone (arrow) adhering where the die has been abraded by the casting. B, A suitable marking agent (e.g., rouge and turpentine) can be used to detect areas that must be relieved to allow complete seating.

When a nodule is removed from the internal aspect of a casting, deliberately removing a slightly greater amount of alloy in the area is recommended. Once the casting has been adjusted, determining the exact location of the nodule is no longer possible. Therefore, the nodule should be removed entirely in one step, rather than through sequential relief of the internal surface (Fig. 29-6).

Fig. 29-6 When removing a nodule, remove slightly more than the defect to ensure complete seating of the restoration.

Indiscriminately removing material from the internal aspect of any casting is not an acceptable alternative. This results in excessive loss of retention and resistance form, and the restoration must be remade.

Marking agents

Several agents are commercially available to facilitate identification of the seating interference between the casting and the die. These include water-soluble dies (e.g., Liqua-Mark^*), solvent-based dies (e.g., AccuFilm IV^†), and powdered sprays (e.g., Occlude^‡). A suspension of rouge in turpentine or an elastomeric detection paste (e.g., Fit Checker, Fit Checker II^§) can also be used as an alternative.^5,6 These agents should be applied as a thin film to the internal surface of the casting. High magnification of the casting after seating reveals initial contact for grinding (Fig. 29-7). Regardless of the method used, the internal surface of the casting should always be thoroughly cleaned before the luting procedure (see Chapter 31).

Fig. 29-7 Liquid marking agents can be helpful if the internal surface of a casting has a nodule. A, Incomplete seating. B, Liquid marking agent. C, A thin coat is applied to the internal surface and air dried. D, Casting gently returned to the die. E, Area of interference identified. F, Nodules are best removed with a small round bur. G, Seated casting.

Objective

To reestablish proper coronal structure and function, the sprue must be sectioned, and the casting must be recontoured in the area of its attachment.

Procedure

Once the fit of the casting has been verified on the die and it has been found to be acceptable, the sprue is sectioned, and the area of its attachment to the casting (Fig. 29-8) is reshaped.

Fig. 29-8 A, The button is most effectively removed by cutting around the sprue and then twisting it off (B). C, With multiple castings made simultaneously, access is more difficult. When it is necessary to sever a sprue completely, care must be taken not to damage the margin inadvertently. D, Disks and stones are used for gross recontouring.

A carborundum separating disk is used to cut through the sprue. Cutting should be performed circumferentially, with a small area maintained in the center of the sprue. This last connection is broken by twisting and separating it from the casting. Wire cutters are not recommended, because they may lead to distortion of the casting. Any excess in the area of the sprue attachment is removed with the disk, and the area is refined with stones and sandpaper disks.

Objective

The proximal contact areas are adjusted in the laboratory so that they will be correct (or slightly too tight) when the casting is evaluated in the mouth.

Procedure

Special care is needed to prevent the finishing procedures from producing an overreduced and, consequently, inadequate proximal contact. Although this can be corrected with solder (see p. 889), it is a time-consuming and unnecessary procedure.

A slightly excessive contact, however, may be corrected easily during clinical evaluation. The proximal contacts on the stone cast can be minimally relieved by careful scraping with a scalpel (Fig. 29-9). The casting is then adjusted until it just seats. When adjacent castings are made, they should not be simultaneously adjusted to seat on the definitive cast. Under these circumstances, the proximal contacts should be left slightly too tight in the dental laboratory. For such multiple castings, clinical evaluation is done sequentially and on an individual basis. Adjustments are made for each casting independently.

Fig. 29-9 Rather than risk a deficient proximal contact at evaluation, the technician may reduce the cast slightly by scraping the adjacent teeth with a blade.

When proximal contacts are adjusted, placing a thin Mylar articulating film between a/>