Dental Laboratory procedures

articulator

device to imitate joint action when gypsum model is placed on it

model trimmer

grinding, motorized, abrasive disc device used to trim or remove excess gypsum on diagnostic casts in preparation for placement on articulators or for models that may be used as visual records of mouth conditions for patient education and treatment planning

vibrator

small table-model appliance with a platform to hold bowls of freshly mixed gypsum; Used to gently shake or vibrate air bubbles to the top of the mixture

furnace

heating device with high temperature range (up to 2,000°C or 3,632°F); Used to melt out the wax patterns from the investment material

waxing unit

heater unit to melt and hold lab wax (50-120° C or 122-248°F) in a liquid state for use in laboratory construction procedures

waxing pens/pencils

handheld electrical heating device with various insert tips used to carve and mold wax patterns

oven

hot-air heat devices to prepare materials (100- 480°C or 200-900°F)

bath

hot oil, or water-heat device to prepare materials to 200°C (350°F) temperature

hydrocolloid conditioning machine

heating device that uses water to condition and prepare reversible hydrocolloid material for impressions

burner

heating device to externally heat an object not contained within it; Used to heat wax for carving or sheets of base plate wax for models

vacuum formers

device used to heat acrylic sheets and vacuum pressure them to prepared form for construction of a custom impression tray, mouth guard, surgical template, or tooth-bleaching trays

electroplating unit

electrical device used to apply alloy materials to surface object (dies); The alloy covering on the Stone die protects the surface of the die during fabrication

blowtorch

heating device using compressed gas or chemical fuel to melt alloys for casting

casting machine

centrifugal spin device used to force melted alloy into an investment ring

curing unit

device used to heat-cure or complete the polymerization process of acrylics

sandblasting machine

air-abrasion machine with forced abrasive material (sand) flow to polish and clean items

lathe

electrical motor with extended rods for attachment of appliances for sanding, smoothing, and shaping of materials

splash pan

receptacle with high back that is inserted under the lathe wheel ends; Helps maint

dust collector

suction-powered unit to remove gypsum and acrylic dust from the lab area

plating unit

machine to electroplate gold veneers, precious metals, and semi-precious metals

denture flange

extension of denture over the posterior anatomy present; used to stabilize

impression tray

may be custom made or purchased commercially as plain or perforated full arch

spacer

material, usually baseplate wax, that is placed on the model or cast surface to allow a space for the impression material

stop

indents or holes cut out of the spacer in the tray to prevent the tray from being placed too deeply

adhesive

sticky liquid that is painted or sprayed on the surface of the smooth impression tray to help retain the impression material in the tray

molding

finger shaping of the impression material over the edge of the tray for better adaptation; also called muscle trimming

wax setup

sample prosthesis used to fit, adjust, and test jaw relationship of the wax denture. Made of baseplate wax, shellac, or thermoplastic material

occlusal rims

wax block placed on the baseplate over the residual ridge of the plate. Used for placement of denture teeth while mounted on the articulator

stress breaker

a device placed in stress-bearing areas assist with occlusal forces

post and core crown (PCC)

crown for use in an endodontically treated tooth with significant loss of tooth structure

separating medium

material placed upon the die before the wax is melted onto it to enable separation when completed

die relief

a space in the prosthesis to accommodate the cement process. Provided by a thicker separating medium

sprue (SPROO) pin

a small plastic pin or wax channel area attached to the wax pattern to provide space in the investment for the entry of melted metal in the casting procedure

sprue base

a brass disc with a rounded, pyramid top used to hold the sprue pin that is attached to a wax pattern. It receives the bottom of the wax casting ring and filled with investment material

Blowtorch zone 1

junction area when gases meet; unproductive

Blowtorch zone 2

combustion area, oxidizing, slightly green; not to be used

Blowtorch zone 3

reducing area, blush, hottest part of flame; the desirable use zone

Blowtorch zone 4

oxidizing area, where flame meets air; coolest part of the flame

pickling solution

solution used to remove surface film from the cast restoration

soldering

joining of two metals by the fusion of an intermediate alloy that may be silver or gold

flux

an agent used to protect the alloy from oxidation during the heating process

anti-flux

material, usually graphite, that is applied to retard the forward advance of the melted solder

CEREC AC with bluecam

Sirona - "one-day dentistry" for inlays, crowns, onlays, and restorations

milling unit receives Wireless order and in 15-20 minutes completes the restoration

E4D Dentist

D4D Technologies - uses a laser-type wand that

• obtains 3 view (buccal, lingual, and occlusal) per tooth.

• exhibit up to 16 Restorations on a single window

• produce a 3D working model

LAVA COS (chairside oral scanner)

3M ESPE - uses a handheld wand with LED lights to

• scan over the prepared and powered prep area, opposing arch, and buccal surfaces.

• Indicate correct one positioning by color View white (acceptable), pink (data need), black (not scanned)

• use 3D glasses to review processed 3D model

iTero system

Cadent - uses a handheld laser/optical wand with wireless foot pedal to take a series of images

• speaks to the user indicating which tooth surface and tooth to do

• produce a 3D model

• data uploaded to the Milling Center for model fabrication