Denture Processing Vocabulary

Sprue

Sprue

The channel or hole through which plastic or metal is poured or cast into a gate or reservoir and then into a mold.

Interproximal

The area of a tooth that is in close association with another tooth in an adjacent arch.

Registration marks

The recording of the jaw relationships present to assist in the proper fabrication of dental prostheses.

Rugae

The tissue ridges located on the anterior of the hard palate of the maxilla jaw.

Tuberosity

The most distal portion of the maxilla alveolar ridge.

Polymerization

The forming of a compound by the joining together of molecules of small molecular weights into a compound of large molecular weight.

Custom tray

An individualized impression made from a cast recovered from a preliminary impression. It is used to make a final impression.

Festooning

Carvings in the base material of a denture that simulate the contours of the natural tissue that are being replaced by the denture.

Centric Occlusion

The occlusion of opposing teeth when the mandible is in centric relation.

Palatine Fovea

Two small pits or depressions in the posterior aspect of the palatal mucosa (the maxilla).

Post Palatal Seal

An elevation of acrylic resin on the tissue side of the posterior border of a maxillary appliance for the purpose of sealing it against the resilient soft tissue in the palate.

Vibrating Line

An imaginary line across the posterior part of the palate marking the division between the movable and immovable tissues of the soft palate.

Balanced Occlusion

The bilateral, simultaneous, anterior, and posterior occlusal contact of teeth in centric and eccentric positions.

Flasking/Invest

The process of investing the cast and a wax replica of the desired form in a flask preparatory to mold the restorative material into the desired product.

Papilla

Any small, nipple-shaped elevation.

Tricuspid

Denoting three cusps.

Bifurcated

Having two roots.

Sulcus

A shallow fissure between the marginal gingiva and the enamel.

Diastema

A space between two adjacent teeth in the dental arch.

Bilateral

Having two sides.

Protrusive

Thrusting forwards.

Prosthetic Dentistry

A clinical diagnostic index classification for anything related to prosthodontics.

Compensating Curve

The anteroposterior curving and the mediolateral curving within the alignment of the occluding surfaces and incisal edges of artificial teeth that are used to develop balanced occlusion.

Wax-up

The contouring of a pattern in wax generally applied to the shaping in wax of the contours of a trial denture.

Try-in

The process of placing a trial denture.

Porosity

The presence of voids or pores.