Dental Laboratory and Materials

Ceramist

Specialist who fabricates porcelain crowns and restorations.

Work order

Instruction to make a specific quantity of a particular dental item.

Working days

Amount of time required by the laboratory to complete a prescription.

Articulator

Dental laboratory device that simulates mandibular and temporomandibular joint movement when dental models are attached.

Model trimmer

Machine used to grind and contour gypsum cast models.

Gypsum mixing machine

Device used for mechanical mixing of gypsum products with a vacuum to eliminate air bubbles.

Vibrator

Table-model appliance used to vibrate mixed gypsum to release air bubbles.

Furnace

High-temperature heating device used to eliminate wax from investment material.

Waxing unit

Heater used to melt and maintain lab wax in liquid form.

Waxing pens/pencils

Handheld electric devices with heated tips for carving and shaping wax.

Hydrocolloid conditioning machine

Water-heated device used to prepare reversible hydrocolloid impression material.

Burner

External heating device such as a Bunsen burner or micro torch.

Vacuum former

Device that heats acrylic sheets and vacuum-presses them over a model.

Electroplating unit

Electrical device that applies alloy coatings to surface objects.

Casting machine

Centrifugal device that forces molten alloy into an investment ring.

Curing unit

Device used to polymerize or heat-cure acrylics or bonding materials.

Sandblasting machine

Air-abrasion device used to clean and polish dental items.

Lathe

Motorized device used for sanding, smoothing, and shaping materials.

Splash pan

Receptacle placed under lathe wheels to collect debris.

Plating unit

Machine used to electroplate precious or semi-precious metals.

Electric motors and handpieces

Benchtop power units for laboratory handpieces.

Welder/solder machine

Electric unit used for welding or soldering dental components.

Full mouth denture set

Complete replacement of both maxillary and mandibular arches.

Single denture

Denture that replaces one dental arch.

Immediate denture

Denture placed immediately after tooth extraction.

Overdenture

Denture that fits over remaining teeth or implants.

Denture base

Acrylic portion of a denture that fits over the alveolar ridge.

Denture teeth

Artificial teeth made of porcelain or acrylic used in dentures.

Denture flange

Extension of the denture that aids in stabilization.

Denture post dam

Suction seal extending across the posterior denture.

Impression tray

Device used to carry impression material into the mouth.

Spacer

Material placed on a model to allow space for impression material.

Stop

Indents or holes in a tray to prevent over-seating.

Molding

Finger shaping of impression material for better adaptation.

Porcelain fused to metal

Process of bonding porcelain to a metal substructure.

CAD/CAM system

Computer-assisted design and manufacturing system used in dentistry.

DIU system

Digital impression unit used to scan oral structures.

Wax setup

Sample prosthesis used to test fit and jaw relationships.

Occlusal rims

Wax blocks used to establish denture tooth placement.

Festooning

Shaping wax to simulate gingival anatomy.

Centric relationship

Most retruded, unstrained position of the mandible.

Retrusion

Posterior position of the mandible in occlusion.

Protrusion

Anterior position of the mandible in occlusion.

Lateral excursion

Side-to-side movement of the mandible during occlusion.

Vertical dimension

Height between denture teeth when in occlusion.

Smile line

Amount of denture tooth visible when smiling.

Cuspid eminence

Vertical height of cuspid placement in dentures.

Partial appliance

Dental prosthesis that replaces one or more teeth.

Crown and bridgework

Fixed dental prosthesis replacing missing teeth.

Removable partial denture

Prosthesis that can be removed and replaced by the patient.

Bilateral partial denture

Partial denture replacing teeth on both sides of the arch.

Unilateral partial denture

Partial denture replacing teeth on one side of the arch.

Framework

Metal skeleton of a partial denture.

Abutment

Natural tooth or implant that supports a prosthesis.

Connector

Framework component that unites parts of a partial denture.

Saddle

Framework extension that rests on the alveolar ridge.

Stress breaker

Device that reduces occlusal stress on a prosthesis.

Retainer

Clasp or attachment that holds a removable partial denture.

Bar clasp

Clasp that extends upward from the denture base toward a tooth undercut.

Circumferential clasp

Clasp that encircles more than 180 degrees of a tooth.

Rest

Metal extension that provides support and stabilization on a tooth.

Inlay

Cast restoration that fits within the cusps of a tooth.

Onlay

Cast restoration that covers one or more cusps.

Three-quarter crown

Cast restoration covering all but the facial surface.

Full crown

Restoration that covers the entire anatomical tooth.

Porcelain fused to metal crown

Full crown with porcelain veneer over metal.

Veneer

Thin tooth-colored shell applied to the facial surface of a tooth.

Porcelain jacket crown

Ceramic veneered crown for anterior teeth.

Post and core crown

Crown with an internal post for endodontically treated teeth.

Temporary crown

Provisional crown used while the permanent restoration is fabricated.

Fixed bridge

Prosthesis replacing missing teeth using abutment teeth.

Cantilever bridge

Bridge supported on only one side.

Maryland bridge

Resin-bonded bridge attached to adjacent teeth.

Facebow

Measuring device used to record occlusal position.

Occlusal records

Measurements of jaw relationships.

Die

Exact stone replica of a prepared tooth.

Dowel pin

Tapered post placed in a die for handling.

Wax pattern

Wax replica of a dental prosthesis used for casting.

Separating medium

Material applied to a die to allow wax separation.

Sprue pin

Channel attached to a wax pattern for alloy flow.

Sprue base

Brass base that holds the sprue pin during investing.

Casting ring

Ring used to hold investment during casting.

Liner

Material placed inside a casting ring to allow expansion.

Investment

Gypsum-based material that maintains wax pattern shape.

Wax elimination

Heating process that removes wax from investment.

Casting

Process of forcing molten alloy into an investment mold.

Blowtorch zone 1

Area where gases meet, no useful heat produced.

Blowtorch zone 2

Oxidizing combustion area not used for casting.

Blowtorch zone 3

Reducing zone, hottest part of the flame.

Blowtorch zone 4

Cool oxidizing area where flame meets air.

Soldering

Joining metals using a lower-fusing alloy.

Flux

Agent that prevents oxidation during heating.

Anti-flux

Material that prevents solder flow into unwanted areas.

Impression plaster

Gypsum product requiring 60 cc of water per 100 g of plaster.

Gypsum product

Material made from calcined gypsum, used in dental applications.

Metallic oxide paste

Two-paste system used in dental procedures.

Impression compound

Supplied in cakes and sticks for impressions.

Plastic impression material

Used with or without teeth.

Thermoplastic

Softens when heated, hardens when cooled.

Compound

Supplied in sheets or sticks for impressions.