By Bob Cullivan, Director of Quality Control, Trident Dental Laboratories
Doctors have found a variety of useful applications for Tri-Temps. They are useful for esthetically demanding patients, long span bridges, and full arch restorations.
Tri-Temps provide patients with highly esthetics needs, especially in the anterior region with an attractive temporary crown or bridge while in interim between tooth preparation and final restoration. Patients can have a confident smile during case treatment, which can vary from one week up to six months.
They can be initiated at a consultation appointment by simply taking alginate (preferred) or PVS impressions. Our technicians will prepare the model based on the doctor's specifications for reduction, recorded on the prescription. Because this is done prior to actual case preparation, it can lead to quicker patient acceptance.
Tri-Temps can also take the place of a diagnostic wax-up which means it can be used as a guide to case treatment. This becomes very cost-effective, especially with our current Tri-Temps promotion — submit your Tri-Temps invoice with your final restoration case and receive full credit on your Tri-Temps. Furthermore, the patient does not have to wait for the Tri-Temps once his or her teeth have been prepared.
They are also cost-effective in terms of the doctor's chair time. Long span bridges and full arch restorations can be rather cumbersome, time-consuming, and frustrating. Having Trident produce the Tri-Temps frees valuable chair time, allowing the doctor to accept more patients.
For optimum results
1) Full upper and lower algin-ate impressions/opposing model should be provided, using rigid trays to reduce the possibility of distortion. The full arch models allow our technicians to match the size and shape of existing dentition as well as providing lateral and protrusive excursions (figure 1).
2) A bite registration or wax bite is especially useful in cases where the centric occlusion is difficult to determine and there are no wear facets to use as a guide for articulation. Other instances where a bite is critical are bridges that have no natural teeth distal to the bridge abutments or in cases with open anterior or posterior bites (figure 2).
3) The doctor has the option of preparing the model or leaving that up to the Trident technician. When left up to the technician, it provides a guide as to the patient's tooth size and contour. Just mark on the prescription the desired amount of reduction desired; light (app. 1 mm) or medium (app. 2 mm) (figure 3).
4) The desired shade selection should be noted on the prescription form (figure 4).
5) Wire reinforcement can be placed in three-unit bridges or larger to provide added strength (optional). It is usually hidden inside or on the lingual so there is no adverse esthetic effect (figure 5).
6) Tri-Temps are cemented temporarily using non-eugenol cement so there are no special steps or materials needed (figures 6 and 7).
For more information, call Trident Dental Laboratories at (800) 221-4831.
