A study of four methods of recording the path of insertion of removable partial dentures

Abstract

lh e path of insertion has been defined as “the direction of movement of an appliance or prosthesis from the point of initial contact of its rigid parts with the supporting teeth to the place of final rest.“’ The record of the path of insertion on the dental cast is part of the dentist’s work authorization to the dental laboratory technician for a removable partial denture. The dentist places the cast on the surveyor, selects the path of insertion, and records the path of insertion on the cast. The path-of-insertion record enables the dental technician to re-place the cast on a surveyor in the same position that the dentist selected. The denture may then be constructed according to the dentist’s prescribed path of insertion. This study investigated four methods that a dentist may use to record the path of insertion on the cast. The purpose of the study was to determine how well each of the four methods enabled dental technicians to re-place the cast on a surveyor in the dentist’s prescribed path of insertion.