Accurate occlusal relations in partial denture construction

Abstract

1. Occlusal pressure should be transmitted to teeth adjacent to the saddle areas with the aid of occlusal rests in order to eliminate, as far as possible, the variable factor when making occlusal records for partial dentures—soft tissue displacement. 2. When a registration on occlusion rims supported by the teeth is insufficient, and a record must be made on saddles supported by mucosa, the consistency of the medium in which this registration is made should approximate that of the material used in making the impression. 3. Occlusion rims for all types of occlusal relation records should be made of shellac baseplate with modeling compound rims. They should be made as accurately as possible, especially where they make contact with the teeth and stress bearing areas. The occlusion rims must not change their position relative either to the teeth or the casts when they are transferred from the mouth to the casts and vice versa. Wire occlusal rests made of a light gauge half round stainless steel wire should be accurately fitted to the abutment teeth whenever possible. These rests, together with any part of the occlusion rim in contact with the lingual surfaces of the teeth, act as guides for the occlusion rims when they are in the mouth and on the cast. In difficult cases, the occlusion rims should be fitted with the aid of a zinc oxide-eugenol impression paste.