189-192_MARCHINI:043_GUREL_v5 1/18/08 11:22 AM Page 189

IMPROVING OCCLUSION IN
REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES:
MODIFIED FLASKING PROCEDURES
Michelle Roberta Vieira Silva, DDS1
Leonardo Marchini, DDS, MSD, PhD2,3
Vicente de Paula Prisco da Cunha, DDS, MSc, PhD2,3
Jarbas Francisco Fernandes dos Santos, DDS, MSD, PhD2,3

O
cclusion is an exhaustively studied factor
that should contribute to better perfor-
mance in removable prosthodontics and a
good functional relation with the stomatognathic
components (muscles and temporomandibular
joints). Achieving adequate occlusion is important for
improving the patient’s comfort and satisfaction with
the dentures.1,2
Adequate occlusion is normally achieved in the
artificial teeth waxup step. However, during the
normal technical procedures for acrylic resin poly-
merization, polymerization shrinkage usually re-
sults in movement of the artificial teeth. This
movement often leads to increased vertical di-
mensions, premature contacts, and anterior “open
bite” of dentures.3–6 Flasking and deflasking pro-
cedures also contribute to occlusal alterations6,7 by
modifying the position of artificial teeth in relation
to the complete denture base or the metal frame-
work of removable partial dentures.
For technical procedures involving removable
partial dentures, alterations of teeth position in re-
lation to the metal framework are allowed by plac-
ing the metal framework and artificial teeth on op-
posite sides of the flask. This article presents a
technique to minimize the occlusal alterations this
can cause by use of a plaster wall to fix the rela-
tive position of the metal framework and teeth.

1
Private practice, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNIQUE
2
School of Health Sciences, University of Vale do Paraíba, São
José dos Campos, SP, Brazil. The patient used herein to describe the technique
3
Department of Dentistry, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, already had a removable partial denture (RPD) in
Brazil. the maxillary arch. This RPD was well-adapted,
and the patient reported it felt comfortable. The
Correspondence to: Dr Leonardo Marchini, Av Adhemar de
Barros, 1136 Ap 153, 12245-010 São José dos Campos, SP, two canines were the only teeth remaining in the
Brazil. E-mail: leomarchini@directnet.com.br mandibular arch.

QDT 2008 189

COPYRIGHT © 2008 BY QUINTESSENCE PUBLISHING CO, INC. PRINTING OF THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED TO PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO
PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER
189-192_MARCHINI:043_GUREL_v5 1/18/08 11:22 AM Page 190

SILVA ET AL

Teeth waxup and functional impression of edentulous ridge

Fig 1a Waxup is tried in the mouth
and occlusion is found acceptable.

Fig 1b Final functional impression

of the edentulous ridge. Wax is used
for border molding.

1a 1b

Fixing of RPD on false base and preparation of plaster wall

Fig 2a The RPD is placed in the
flask base, which is filled with type II
plaster. Note that wax is fixed over
the buccal surfaces. This serves as a
channel for the acrylic resin flow in a
subsequent step.
Fig 2b A wall made of type III plas-
ter is built over the buccal surfaces
of the RPD and covers the artificial
teeth completely. The lingual sur-
faces are not covered.
Fig 2c Buccal aspect of the plaster
wall. Note the channels made of
wax, with excess removed.

After a preliminary impression was made with ir-
reversible hydrocolloid, and then delineating and
RPD framework planning, fabrication, and set-up,
the intermaxillary record was made and the
mandibular RPD mounted in a semiadjustable ar-
ticulator for artificial teeth waxup. The RPD base
was not reinforced with resin, since that would
have hindered processing the permanent base
later.
The teeth waxup was tried in the mouth, and
the occlusion achieved approved by the patient
and dentist (Fig 1a). The functional impression of
the edentulous ridge was made using zinc-
eugenol paste and wax for border molding (Figs
1a and 1b). The impressions were filled with type
III plaster.
The RPD was then placed in the base of the
flask, after fixing sprues in the buccal areas for the
acrylic resin flow (Fig 2a). A wall of plaster (type III)
was made over the buccal areas, covering the arti-
ficial teeth completely. The lingual areas were not
covered with plaster (Figs 2b and 2c). All exposed
plaster surfaces had to be expulsive. They were
then isolated, and the middle part of the flask was
placed and filled with type II plaster. After the
plaster hardened, the flask was heated by immer-
sion in boiling water. The flask was then opened,
and all the wax was removed with boiling water
(Figs 3a and 3b). Note, in Fig 3b, that the teeth
and metal framework remained in the same rela-
tive position in the same part of the flask.
Heat-activated acrylic resin was placed on the
plaster wall, over the RPD framework and onto the
artificial teeth, and allowed to flow through the
buccal sprues (Fig 3c). The flask was then closed,
pressed under 1.5 tons of force (Fig 3d), and left
in a water bath at 72ºC for 12 hours to polymerize
the acrylic resin.

190 QDT 2008

COPYRIGHT © 2008 BY QUINTESSENCE PUBLISHING CO, INC. PRINTING OF THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED TO PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO
PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER
189-192_MARCHINI:043_GUREL_v5 1/18/08 11:22 AM Page 191

Improving Occlusion In Removable Partial Dentures

Flasking, resin pressing, and polymerization

Fig 3a Flask opened after wax re-
moval.

Fig 3b Lingual and internal aspects

of the RPD in the plaster wall. Note
that the artificial teeth and metal
framework remain in the same part
of the flask.

Fig 3c Pink heat-activated acrylic

resin is placed on the plaster wall 3a 3b
and flows down through the buccal
sprues.

Fig 3d The flask is closed and

pressed under 1.5 tons of force.

3c 3d

Deflasking and finishing

Fig 4a After removal of the flask
base, the plaster that filled the func-
tional impressions of the alveolar
ridge is left behind and must be re-
moved carefully to preserve the den-
ture base.

Fig 4b Denture base after molding.

Fig 4c RPD after finishing and pol-

ishing procedures.
4a 4b
Fig 4d Final RPD in the patient’s
mouth. No major occlusal adjust-
ments were necessary.

4c 4d

The deflasking procedures (Figs 4a and 4b) were
carried out carefully, making sure the RPD base was
adequate (Fig 4b). The wax flow channels in the buc-
cal area had now turned into acrylic resin and were
removed during the finishing procedures (Fig 4c).
The occlusal scheme obtained during the artifi-
cial teeth waxup was now visible in the acrylic den-
tures (Fig 4d), and no major occlusal adjustments
were required.

QDT 2008 191

COPYRIGHT © 2008 BY QUINTESSENCE PUBLISHING CO, INC. PRINTING OF THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED TO PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO
PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER
189-192_MARCHINI:043_GUREL_v5 1/18/08 11:22 AM Page 192

SILVA ET AL

CONCLUSION 3. Abuzar MA, Jamani K, Abuzar M. Tooth movement during

The technique reported here produces optimal oc-
clusion in removable partial dentures by maintain-
ing the relative position between the metal frame-
work and artificial teeth. This technique is easy and
does not require additional equipment or costs.
REFERENCES
1. Dubojska AM, White GE, Pasiek S. The importance of oc-
clusal balance in the control of complete dentures.
Quintessence Int 1998;29:389–394.
2. Ruffino AR. Improved occlusal equilibration of complete
dentures by augmenting occlusal anatomy of acrylic resin
denture teeth. J Prosthet Dent 1984;52:300–302.
processing of complete dentures and its relation to
palatal form. J Prosthet Dent 1995;73:445–449.
4. Kawara M, Komiyama O, Kimoto S, Kobayashi K, Nemoto
K. Distortion behavior of heat-activated acrylic denture
base resin in conventional and long, low temperature pro-
cessing methods. J Dent Res 1998;77:1446–1453.
5. Sadamori S, Ishii T, Hamada T. Influence of thickness on
the linear dimensional chang, warpage and water uptake
of a denture base resin. Int J Prosthodont 1997;10:35–43.
6. Wesley RC, Henderson D, Frazier QZ, et al. Processing
changes in complete dentures: Posterior tooth contacts
and pin opening. J Prosthet Dent 1973;29:46–54.
7. Kobayashi N, Komiyama O, Kimoto S, Kawara M. Reduc-
tion of shrinkage on heat-activated acrylic denture base
resin obtaining gradual cooling after processing. J Oral
Rehabil 2004;31:710–716.

192 QDT 2008

COPYRIGHT © 2008 BY QUINTESSENCE PUBLISHING CO, INC. PRINTING OF THIS DOCUMENT IS RESTRICTED TO PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO
PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER