Overview
This lecture introduces the concept of a dental surveyor, its uses, key features, and some associated terms relevant to removable partial dentures.
Introduction to Dental Surveyor
- A dental surveyor is an instrument used in prosthodontics to determine the relative parallelism of tooth surfaces.
- It helps design removable partial dentures by identifying suitable paths of insertion and removal.
- The dental surveyor is crucial for identifying undercuts and guiding planes on teeth.
Key Components and Functions
- The main parts of a surveyor include the vertical arm, horizontal arm, base, and surveying tools.
- It assists in analyzing diagnostic casts to locate undercuts for clasp placement.
Surveying Process
- The surveyor’s analyzing rod detects the most favorable path of insertion for partial dentures.
- Marking instruments on the surveyor can outline undercut areas and guide planes.
- Wax trimmers or carbon markers are used for marking and adjusting casts.
Important Related Terms
- Channeling refers to creating paths or channels for denture components.
- The “path of insertion” is the direction the denture follows when placed in the mouth.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Dental Surveyor — an instrument to analyze and mark cast models for prosthodontic planning.
- Undercut — an area below the height of contour on a tooth, useful for denture retention.
- Path of Insertion — the direction a prosthesis is placed onto or removed from teeth.
- Guide Plane — flat surfaces on teeth prepared to direct denture insertion.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the surveyor’s components and their functions.
- Practice identifying undercuts and paths of insertion on study models.
- Prepare questions on removable partial denture design for the next session.