SURVEYING

Haroon Rashid
BDS, MDSc (Rest.Dent)

Aim & Objective

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An overview of the terminologies that may be

used during surveying procedure.
An outline on how the surveying procedure is
performed during RPD construction.

Undercut
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An undercut if formed when the base of an

object is smaller than its top.
Undercuts on an abutment tooth lie below the
height of contour.
Height of contour is the most bulbous and
convex part of the tooth which is also called
Maximum Bulge.

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Height of contour

Undercut area
Non Undercut
Area

Undercut
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a)

b)
c)

A partially edentulous arch

may have many undercuts
which may be due to:
Bulbous shape of the
crowns which may occur
naturally.
Inclination of the teeth.
Inclination of soft tissues
or bone resulting in soft
tissue undercuts.

Types of undercuts
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a)

b)

Undercuts in prosthetic dentistry may be

desirable or undesirable.
Desirable Undercuts are those undercuts
which are used for retaining the partial
denture against the desirable forces. This is
done using clasp arms and less frequently
by using the denture base engaging in soft
tissue undercuts.
Undesirable Undercuts are those
undercuts which are other than those used
for retention and should be eliminated.

Undesirable Undercuts
The elimination of the undesirable undercuts can
be by blocking-out the undercut with wax on the
master cast, by the preparation and reduction of
the tooth surface in the mouth or by placing a
properly contoured crown restoration on the tooth.

a)

b)

c)

In planning for removable partial dentures the prosthodontist

should:
Identify tooth contours, soft tissue or bony undercuts that
may interfere with the placement of the denture and that
should be corrected in the mouth before construction of the
prosthesis.
Analyze the shape of abutment teeth to determine the
maximum bulge of teeth.
The amount of undercut required to provide the best
retentive & esthetically satisfactory partial denture.

All of this can be achieved by the aid of the dental surveyor.

The Dental Surveyor

(Definition)
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The dental surveyor was

first introduced in the
dental profession in 1918.
Necessary for effective
RPD treatment.
It is an instrument used to
determine the relative
parallelism of two or more
surfaces of the teeth or
other parts of the cast of a
dental arch.

Survey Line
The survey line is a
"Line outlined on the
cast by a surveyor
marking the greatest
prominence of tooth
contour in relation to the
planned path of insertion
of a restoration".

The dental surveyor

The two most commonly types of surveyors in

used are Ney Surveyor and
Jalenko
Surveyor.

Purpose of surveyor
Following functions:
a) Determines the most desirable path of
placement.
b) Locates and measures undercuts.
c) Identification of proximal tooth surfaces
that are, or need to be made parallel to
each other so that they act as guide
planes during insertion or removal.

Purpose of surveyor
d)

e)

f)

Identifies or locates the areas that may be

used for retention.
Locates the height of contour on the
abutment teeth and locates undesirable
areas of undercut which are to be avoided,
eliminated or blocked out.
Records the cast position in relation to
selected path of placement for future
reference.

Surveying Tools

Surveying Tools
Analyzing Rod

Surveying Tools

Carbon Markers

Surveying Tools

Undercut Guages
Available in different sizes
i.e. 0.25mm, 0.50mm &
0.75mm.

Graphite marker
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The graphite marker is

moved around the tooth
and along the alveolar
ridge to identify and
mark the maximum
convexity on the tooth.
This is the survey line
which demarcates the
undercut and nonundercut areas.

Undercut gauge
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Undercut gauge measures

the horizontal undercuts on
the tooth.
By adjusting the vertical
position of the gauge until
the head and the shank
contacts the tooth
simultaneously, the point at
which a specific extent of
horizontal undercut occurs
can be identified and
marked.
This procedure allows
correct positioning of the
retentive clasp arms on the
abutment.

Rule: Retentive tip should usually be designed

to be placed in the gingival 1/3

Trimming knife
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Trimming knife is used

to eliminate unwanted
undercuts.
Wax is added to these
unwanted undercut
areas and excess is
removed with the
trimmer so that the
modified surfaces are
parallel to the path of
insertion.

Trimming knife

The trimming knife can

also be used to prepare
guide surfaces on the
wax patterns of crowns
for abutment teeth.

Surveying
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a)
b)
c)

Before discussing surveying in more detail,

it is necessary to explain the following
terms:
Guide surfaces (guide planes).
Path of insertion.
Path of displacement.

Guide surfaces
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To of more parallel
axial surfaces on the
abutment teeth which
can be used to limit the
path of insertion and
improve the stability of
a denture.
May occur naturally or
usually they have to be
prepared.

Path of insertion
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The path followed by

the denture from its first
contact with the teeth
until it is fully seated.
A single path of
insertion is present
when sufficient guide
surfaces are contacted
by the denture.

Path of insertion
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Multiple paths of
insertion will exist
where guide surfaces
are not utilized i.e.
when the abutment
teeth are divergent.

Path of insertion

Occasionally the
rotational path of
insertion can be
employed.

Advantages of a Single Path of Insertion

Equalizes retention
l Minimizes the torque on
abutments
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Advantages of a Single Path of Insertion

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Allows removal without encountering

interferences

Advantages of a Single Path of Insertion

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Directs forces along long axes of teeth

Path of displacement
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This is the direction in

which the denture
tends to be displaced in
function.
The path is variable but
is assumed for the
purpose of design that
it is at right angle to the
occlusal plane.

The path of insertion and removal is analyzed

by placing the cast on the surveying table in
relation to the vertical rod of the surveyor.
The vertical movement of the analyzing rod
represents the path of insertion.
The path of insertion can be changed by
tilting the cast in relation to the vertical
spindle.

Tilting the cast

Anterior tilting
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Posterior Tilting

An RPD can be designed with the occlusal plane horizontal

(in this case, the path of insertion is equal to the path of
displacement).
However, there are occasions when cast needs to be tilted on
the surveying table so that a different path of insertion can be
applied.

Tilting the cast

The cast is tilted to obtain

maximum parallelism.

Surveying procedure
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Following stages:

a)

Preliminary visual assessment

Initial survey
Analysis
Final survey

b)
c)
d)

Preliminary visual assessment

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a)
b)
c)

This stage is described as eyeballing the

cast which means . simply looking at the
cast.
Cast is held in the hand and inspected from
above and following points are noted:
General inclination of teeth are noted.
General form of the ridge is observed.
An obvious problems noted and idea is
obtained if the tilt is required.

Initial survey
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The cast is positioned

on the horizontal plane.
Teeth and ridges are
surveyed to identify the
undercut areas.
The amount of
undercut can be judged
approximately by
looking at the triangle
of light between the
marker and the cervical
part of the tooth.

Analysis
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a)
b)
c)

Analysis of the cast continues with the

occlusal plane horizontal. Following factors
are considered which determine if the cast
should be tilted or not:
Appearance
Interferences
Retention

Appearance
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Is this acrylic RPD satisfactory in appearance

?

Appearance
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Cast tilted so that the analyzing rod is parallel

to the mesio-labial aspect of the tooth.

Appearance
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Posterior path of insertion of the prosthesis

and appearance is improved.

Interference

Retention
1)
2)
3)

Path of insertion
Path of displacement
* undercut area

Retention

Final survey
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If it is decided that the cast needs to be tilted after

analyzing, the analyzing rod is replaced with a
marker different in color used for the initial survey.

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Read lecture hand-outs.

Please read Millers Removable Partial
Prosthodontics.
Co-relate the lecture with the book.
Ask if there is any confusion.