SECTION E D I T O R

Dental Technology

Organiz ing records and equ ipment for t ransport to a l aboratory

S h a u n D. G r a s e r , D.M.D. Venice, Fla.

This a r t i c le desc r ibes a p rocedu re for combining a facebow wi th a l a b o r a t o r y w o r k pan to m a k e a convenient vehicle for s t o r a ge and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of all cas ts , records , and equipment used to m a k e a p ros thes i s for a pa t ien t . The use of this p rocedure will a s s u r e tha t eve ry th ing n e c e s s a r y for the l a b o r a t o r y p rocedure s will be in the l a b o r a t o r y at the same time. (J PROSTHET DENT 1990;63:102-3.)

r l~ & h e work authorizat ion order, impressions, face-

bow, centric relation records, and art iculator often arrive in the laboratory at different times, creating confusion and inaccuracy. This article describes a method to assure tha t all records and equipment arrive in the laboratory at the same time.

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P R O C E D U R E

This procedure is dependent upon a plastic laboratory work pan tha t will hold all of the records and instruments necessary for the laboratory to make the prosthesis re- quired by the dent is t for the patient: 1. Obtain a laboratory work pan (Poly-Work Pan size 5,

53/4 × 7 × 2V2 inches, Healthco Internat ional , Boston, Mass.).

2. Drill two holes in the work pan, one on each side, approximately 1 inch from the back of the pan and 3/4

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F i g . 1. Holes dri l led in sides of plastic laboratory pan to accomodate condylar rods of facebow.

1 0 2 J A N U A R Y 1 9 9 0 V O L U M E 63 N U M B E R 1

ORGANIZING RECORDS AND EQUIPMENT

Fig. 2. Laboratory pan holds articulator, jaw relation records in denture cup, casts, work authorization order, and facebow with bite fork attached,

inch from the bottom, so that the diameter of the hole accommodates the condylar rod of the type of facebow used {Fig. 1). (This procedure works well with the Ear- bow, Twirlbow and Hanau Facia [Teledyne Hanau,

Buffalo, N.Y.] and several other facebows. I have found that a Brasseler No. 351E Cutter [Brasseler USA, Inc., Savannah, Ga.] is best for making smooth symmetric holes in plastic laboratory work pans.)

3. After the records are made, place the ear of the facebow pieces in the holes in the pan and lock them in place.

4. Use a rubber band to hold the bite fork and facebow against the back of the pan.

5. Place the selected articulator, work authorization order, jaw relation records, impressions or casts, and other necessary information in the work pan in preparation for sending it to the laboratory.

To minimize placing the articulator in the wrong work pan, each articulator is coded to its own work pan. The pan is marked with the articulator number and a short descrip- tion of the articulator, such as "tall grey" or "short black" (Fig. 2). This enables the assistant and technician to easily find the laboratory pan that corresponds with the articu- lator being used. The centric relation records should be placed in a denture cup (Den Shur-cup, Modalities Re- search, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.) for storage without distortion.

Everything needed for making the prosthesis will arrive at the laboratory at the same time. The laboratory proce- dures can begin immediately without the confusion of waiting for more information to arrive or the risk of records becoming mixed with those of another prosthesis.

Reprint requests to: DR. SHAUN D. GRASEE 321 NOKOMIS AVE. SOUTH VENICE, FL 34285

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 1 0 3