Recent CommentsPrepCheck Prep-Marking System: A Good Solution for Crown Preparation?
posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, What's New
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Print This PostDr. F asks:
One of the problems I have always had is over, or under-reducing the occlusal on molars. Either I cut away too much and decrease the retention and resistance forms or I do not cut enough away to make room for the porcelain.
I have tried to use a piece of baselplate wax to gauge the reduction. I have also tried utility wax that I ball up and have the patient bite on. In addition, I have also tried making the temporary crown before I take the final impression and looking at my occlusal room. None of this has worked for me.
I saw an advertisement for PrepCheck made by Common Sense Dental. This is a rubberized strip with articulating paper on one side. Comes in 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm thicknesses. You have the patient bite on the strip and it shows where you need to reduce more. Sounds great. But, these are expensive. Has anyone tried these? What do you think?
Editor’s Note:
According to Common Sense Dental:
“PrepCheck promotes adequate reduction allowing ideal thickness of the final restoration and ensures superior strength and aesthetics. PrepCheck’s special coating marks the tooth in areas that need to be reduced.”
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2 Responses to “ PrepCheck Prep-Marking System: A Good Solution for Crown Preparation? ”
Nice article about PrepCheck. Here’s aomething about wax!
Orthodontic wax is normally supplied in forms of roll or rope , provided in a small portable container for consumers to carry around.
Dear Dr F,
Just to clarify that occlusal reduction per se does not affect retention and resistance; more axial wall reduction.
I believe fixed prosthodontic techniques should be executed with numerical rigor eliminating the need to have expensive gadgets to assess our reduction.
The principles of fixed prosthodontics advise accurate occlusal depth cuts and I mean accurate depth cuts before doing occlusal reduction. A vacuform template of the diagnostic waxup can certainly be a guide too. Another example is using the small ball burnisher tip (which averages 1.5mm in diameter) to assess for example a 1.5mm clearance for a gold crown. Other guides could be PVS material, methylmethacrylate and then measuring these with a calipers. Either way, accurate depth cuts are the best solution!