ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Conceptualizing the next patient interaction is logical, essential, and largely done intuitively with limited literature. The first objective is to elicit student thought experiences to four questions. The secondary objective is to classify responses for respective questions and to review faculty assessments. METHODS: Forty-two students completed the exercise in the first clinical prosthodontics experience after a simulation course, in the fall of 2023. Four open-ended questions were 1) differentiation from the ideal, 2) desired outcome(s), 3) self-capabilities, and 4) consequences/prognosis. Nine different faculty assessed the exercise. RESULTS: 100% of students responded to all four questions and 83% of responses were judged by faculty to grasp the concept in the question. The authors categorized responses into natural categories for each question. Authors separately assigned responses to categories. The agreement rate was 90%. Little to no overlap in responses was observed among the four questions. The sequence of questions led students to thought experiences from empathy in Question #1, to compassion in Question #2, and to self-reflection in Question #3 to social projection in Question #4. CONCLUSIONS: The main objective was met by engaging students in thought-provoking responses to questions the experienced clinician asks of every patient encounter. The exercise elicited different kinds of thought experiences on four topics. The format was succinct with acceptance by students and faculty. The project has progressed from a concept some years ago to a recent pilot to full implementation with the current project. The next steps will be refinement and follow-up in some years. The project follows an emulation model for critical thinking.
ABSTRACT
The fabrication of a survey crown under an existing partial removable dental prosthesis (PRDP) has always been a challenge to many dental practitioners. This clinical report presents a technique for fabricating accurate cast gold survey crowns to fit existing PRDPs using CAD/CAM technology. The report describes a technique that would digitally scan the coronal anatomy of a cast gold survey crown and an abutment tooth under existing PRDPs planned for restoration, prior to any preparation. The information is stored in the digital software where all the coronal anatomical details are preserved without any modifications. The scanned designs are then applied to the scanned teeth preparations, sent to the milling machine and milled into full-contour clear acrylic resin burn-out patterns. The acrylic resin patterns are tried in the patient's mouth the same day to verify the full seating of the PRDP components. The patterns are then invested and cast into gold crowns and cemented in the conventional manner.
Subject(s)
Computer-Aided Design , Crowns , Dental Prosthesis Design , Denture, Partial, Removable , Aged , Dental Abutments , Gold , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
When an edentulous mandible is restored with 4 or more implants connected by a metal bar and retained with screws, mandibular flexure may cause screw loosening and unnecessary stresses and strains on the prosthesis and implants. Separating the prosthesis at the midline can relieve these stresses and strains. This article describes the separation of a hybrid mandibular denture at the midline.
