Harry Rosen

Cracked tooth syndrome.

T he practicing dentist is often perplexed by the cracked or split tooth, yet there is little on this topic in the literature.1-6 Signs and symptoms are often so confusing that the diagnosis is not made until the affected tooth has been extracted. An awareness of the cracked tooth problem and an understanding of its causes can contribute to an easier diagnosis and a more effective prevention and treatment. Extraction is not always the treatment of choice.

Dissolution of cement, root caries, fracture, and retrofit of post and cores

Fixed partial denture abutments severely damaged by dental caries or fracture present a challenge to the dentist. The fixed partial denture may need to be removed for endodontic treatment with post and core fabrication. Frequently, the existing fixed partial denture can be recycled as a provisional restoration. Retrofitting the post and core greatly improves the stabilization of the interim as well as the remake of the definitive fixed partial denture. This article describes a chair side procedure for retrofitting posts and cores and, at the same appointment, converting the original fixed partial denture to an effective provisional restoration.

Salvaging endosseous implants with fractured abutment screws.

A technique for removing a fractured abutment screw and salvaging the endosseous implant is presented. Two commercially available screw retrieval kits are described and discussed.

Cementable implant-supported prosthesis, serial extraction, and serial implant installation: case report.

Cement-retained implant-supported prostheses are particularly indicated where access for screw placement is limited or impossible like in posterior locations or where there is limited jaw opening. The patient in this case report suffered from limited jaw opening as a result of a long history of temporomandibular joint ankylosis related to hemophilia. Cement-retained implant-supported prostheses coupled with serial extraction, serial implant installations, and chairside provisional restorations made uneventful treatment possible.

Implant-supported prosthesis between severely tipped teeth: clinical report.

A restorative solution is presented for dealing with two crowded root form implants. When crowding is unavoidable as a result of tipped teeth adjacent to an edentulous space, minor modifications in sequence and technique permit an otherwise dormant implant to be utilized. (Implant Dent 1993;2:198–200)

The incisal insertion pin inlay

Abstract Numerous techniques have been described in the literature which recommend intraoral and extraoral paralleling devices, twist drills for preparing pin holes, and nylon bristles or metal pins and tubes for obtaining impressions of pin preparations. 6–9 This technique requires no special armamentarium. Free hand paralleling can be mastered by most dentists of average ability. The spinning of rubber base impression material into the pin holes is less time-consuming and less demanding than the seating of prefabricated pins into each of the holes. The danger of a pin failing to become engaged in the rubber base is eliminated. The resultant impression provides an exact reproduction of the complete preparation (including the pin holes) rather than an approximation. Several casts can be easily poured into one good impression. Where a discrepancy exists in one area of an impression, a second impression can be made of that area. Casts made in both impressions are perfectly interchangeable. A precisely fitting casting can be constructed by this method. The retention is not obtained from pins alone, but it is enhanced by pins. Occasionally, where the extracoronal design provides limited retention more pins can be used, and these can be made longer and bulkier. 10,11 Unlike the horizontal parallel and nonparallel pin splinting techniques, the labial enamel remains intact. The final restoration can be most esthetic without compromising or defying the basic rules of operative dentistry (Fig. 8).