Hi Alex. I was wondering if you routinely adjust the contact surfaces of adjacent teeth to ensure that the camera images the contact surfaces accurately. I struggle to get consistent contacts with my restorations and typically overbuild the contact to ensure an adequate contact.
Hi Kevin,
Great question. I do not routinely adjust contours of adjacent teeth, although there are exceptions. If you are having problems with contact strength, look first to overpowdering, second to whether the restoration is seating fully and third to proper angulation of the first image you take (the reference image). The reference image should be in line with the path of insertion of the restoration. If these three parameters are under control, you should be able to design a proximal contact with green and perhaps a little yellow displayed on the virtual model and achieve a contact strength that is adequate.
Alex
As a dental technician this is one of my frustrations. Often the contacts are rough or poor contour, especially when they old amalgams. It's very difficult to make a nice contact point in those situations. Many times we have no option but to overbuild it, which adds time and frustion for the doctor and patient. A quick pass of the bur during the prepping could easily recontour a contact area and assure a trouble free seating proceedure for everyone.
We are getting close results with contact strength set at 0 and having the contact area in green. This is on an uncut low expansion model.
Last edited by Michael Miceli (2009-03-10 08:19:50)
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