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Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe a new technique for casting dies and mounting dental cast on simple hinge articulators using Lego blocks. The objective of this study is achieve a simple and low cost technique for optimizing the dentist's time and cost when using simple hinge articulators.
Methods: Lego Blocks measuring 50mmx30mmx5mm were placed in the hinge articulator with cyanoacrylate adhesive, and solid vaseline was applied on the blocks. The models were then fixed to the blocks with Type III plaster and dies were cast.
Results: This technique guaranteed good precision and retention, optimizing the dentist's time and cost, in addition to allowing the professional to use one and the same hinge articulator for different dental casts simultaneously.
Clinical relevance: The hinged articulator may be indicated to help with the fabrication of single unit prostheses and for fast procedures. Considering the need to facilitate the day-to-day clinical work of dentists in terms of cost, simplicity and time, a technique capable of allowing work on several working models simultaneously will facilitate the work and optimize clinical practice, maintaining the accuracy.
Keywords: cast, hinge articulator, articulator, lego
Introduction
The purpose of mounting dental casts in an appliance is to make a faithful copy of the mandible in relation to the maxilla. The appliances may be classified as fully adjustable, semi-adjustable and non-adjustable [1]. Hinge articulators fall into the group of nonadjustable appliances and are instruments that allow partial models to be mounted for the fabrication of isolated prosthetic elements, fixed prostheses of up to three elements, all localized in the posterior region of the mouth. As advantages, they present: time saving in clinical attendance, fast work in laboratory mounting and simplicity [2].
The simple hinged articulator is an appliance made up of two horizontal bars that allow their movement only in the vertical direction [3]. These non-adjustable instruments may be used for single-tooth restorations, in which occasional occlusal changes in the prosthesis may be corrected directly in the patient's mouth, without damage to the chair time and quality of the prosthesis [4].
Casting may be defined as a set of techniques that make it possible to cut the working model (WM) into parts denominated dies, which can be repositioned in their...