You Ask, We Answer
You Ask, We Answer
JDT Unbound's columnists want to answer your questions. To ask a question click on the e-mail link at the bottom of each columnists' article or e-mail jdt@nadl.org
A Question for Nelson Rego, CDT
Hello. My question is: When restoring the last tooth in the mouth, my doctors ask me to over contour the mesial contact so they won't have to sent it back for an addition. What's happening here clinically? Should the doctor temporize differently?
Thank you,
Martin York, CDT
There are two possibilities as to why this is happening. The assistant may be leaving the contact on the temporary too tight and this leads to a distal orthodontic movement. This will create an open contact on the definitive restoration. You should ask the dentist to verify that the contact is indeed correct. The other possibility is that the temporary is in occlusion, this can move the tooth distally also, again, the solution is to verify that the occlusion on the temp is correct. If I had to bet money, I would say that the contact on the temp being tight is the culprit in this scenario. Especially if this is the only time that contacts are a problem.
Cheers,
Nelson Rego, CDT
