David M. Casey

A review of the submerged-root concept

The purpose of this article was to review and summarize the literature on the retention of submerged roots. It appears that the submerged-root procedures may have an accepted place alongside conventional overdenture techniques in the professions continuing effort to retard alveolar bone resorption in the field of prosthodontics.

Custom surgical stent for naris stenosis.

A technique has been described that allows accurate fabrication of a surgical nasal stent, made preoperatively, based on a mirror image of the shape of the normal naris. The advantage to the surgeon is a surgical stent that has the greatest accuracy possible preoperatively, plus the ability to remake the stent postoperatively with even more accuracy should it be needed. This stent can then be worn long term with minimal visibility and maximum patient acceptance during the critical months postoperatively when relapse is most likely.

Palatopharyngeal anatomy and physiology

Current literature concludes that the levator veli palatini and the musculus uvulae are the muscles primarily responsible for palatopharyngeal closure during speech in the normal individual. As a compensatory mechanism in approximately one third of patients with palatopharyngeal insufficiency, the superior constrictor muscle may be active in the form of Passavants ridge. This ridge occurs infrequently in normal speakers. There is some evidence that this conclusion is too simplistic. There may be more individual variation involved than admitted or understood at present.

Flexible temporary obturators for patients with severely limited jaw opening

0 ne of the sequelae often seen after surgery and/or radiation to the head and neck is the limitation of jaw opening. For the patient who has also had a maxillectomy, the problem becomes compounded since the restoration of deglutition and speech requires the use of a maxillary obturator prosthesis. Because the prosthesis attempts to obturate the palatal defect, insertion and removal may pose great difficulty for the patient due to the large palatal extensions. The patient who is experiencing severe trismus may not be able to use a conventional maxillary obturator due to the limitation of opening. The purpose of this article is to describe the fabrication of a temporary collapsible obturator prosthesis that may be used for patients who are experiencing extremely limited jaw opening.

Interim complete immediate dentures for a patient wearing removable partial dentures

This article describes a technique used for fabricating temporary (interim) complete dentures for a patient who had been wearing removable partial dentures and whose remaining teeth were to be extracted. Rather than attempt to incorporate the existing removable partial dentures into the interim complete dentures, the dentist used the existing dentures to fabricate acrylic resin teeth for the interim prosthesis.

Transfer of the pharyngeal portion of a speech aid prosthesis

Abstract The indications and methods for transfer of the pharyngeal part of a speech aid prosthesis to a new maxillary part have been presented. Since these are laboratory procedures, patient time can be saved by not having to remake the impression for the pharyngeal part. Methods 1, 3, and 4 have been used by one of the authors (N. S.) for approximately 15 years with excellent results. For those who feel that a more exacting method of transfer is needed, method 2 uses a jig to exactly relate the pharyngeal part to the teeth.

A back-action amalgam carrier

A method has been presented for alteration of a conventional lever-type amalgam carrier for use in placement of amalgam in difficult-to-reach distobuccal and distolingual preparations. The few minutes required to alter one of these instruments will be more than repaid in time saved while attempting to place amalgam with a conventional carrier or cotton pliers. It is hoped that in the future one of the manufacturers of the conventional-type carriers will add this altered instrument to their product line.

A method for marking the functional depth of the floor of the mouth

The fabrication and use of an instrument which can accurately mark oral tissues and allows transfer of that mark to an artificial stone cast has been discussed. This procedure is especially useful to mark the anterior floor of the mouth in its superior most position. When transferred to the diagnostic cast, the mark is a considerable aid in designing the inferior border of the major connector for a mandibular removable partial denture framework.