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J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 1, 51-52. © 2008 American Dental Association

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How often do you wish you had a magic wand that could enable a patient with an interim partial denture to be more comfortable, as well as minimize the number of adjustments? Most interim partial dentures with wire clasps are tissue-borne and are not as comfortable as partial dentures with occlusal rests that are both tooth- and tissue-borne. This article describes a simple wire-bending method that may be just the technique dentists need to address this challenge.

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

TOP MATERIALS AND METHODS CONCLUSION

 
This method requires the use of nickel-free 0.028-gauge stainless steel wire, silver solder and flux, a butane torch and wire-bending pliers.

Bend about three inches of the stainless steel wire in the middle until it forms a double wire with a tight loop at one end. Adapt the loop end of the wire to fit the facial surface of the abutment tooth, with the tip of the wire extending beyond the maximum bulge area of the tooth (Figure 1).

View larger version (102K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Loop end of the wire adapted to the facial surface of the abutment tooth.

 
Continue adapting the double wire to the proximal part of the tooth in the saddle area until reaching the occlusal rest seat. Bend one strand of the double wire into a short tight loop to form the occlusal rest (Figure 2).

View larger version (78K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Short tight loop forming the occlusal rest.

 
After making the occlusal rest, bend the remaining part of the double wire toward the saddle area, cut off any excess wire and separate the free ends to form tags that can be embedded into the acrylic (Figure 3).

View larger version (96K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Completed clasps with tags ready to be embedded into the acrylic.

 
Clean and roughen the entire wire with sandpaper, coat the wire with flux, heat the wire with a butane torch and let the solder flow over the double wire to create one solid clasp. After the clasp is trimmed and polished, it is ready to be placed into the interim partial denture. The acrylic on the lingual side of the abutment acts as the bracing arm (Figure 4).

View larger version (89K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Finished partial denture with acrylic on the lingual side of the abutment for bracing.

 

	CONCLUSION

TOP MATERIALS AND METHODS CONCLUSION

 
This technique is fast and easy and can be performed in any dental office. Not only can clinicians use this technique to make new interim partial dentures, they also can use it to add clasps to existing partial dentures. In addition to being more comfortable for the patient, this technique reduces laboratory costs and eliminates the need for an extra office visit.

	FOOTNOTES

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ansari, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ansari, M. Related Collections Restoratives