A survey of the pre-bonding preparation of denture teeth and the efficiency of dewaxing methods

Objectives: Denture tooth debonding remains a significant problem, with the surface condition of the tooth playing a pivotal role. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the methods used in tooth preparation. The efficiency of wax removal from teeth using a range of water temperatures was also investigated. Methods: (a) A postal survey on the methods of denture tooth preparation, prior to denture processing, was conducted amongst dental instructors in prosthodontic departments of dental schools in Great Britain and Ireland. (b) Tooth surfaces contaminated with fluorescence wax were subjected to agitation in water at a range of temperatures and the surfaces examined under ultraviolet radiation. Results: (a) The majority of operators did not use a solvent for the removal of the wax film from the teeth. Modification of the tooth ridge lap surface was carried out by 52% of the respondents on initial processing but increased to 85% when rebonding teeth. (b) Dewaxing denture teeth at a range of water temperatures showed wax retention on the tooth surfaces up to 90 °C. Rough surfaces retained more wax than smooth surfaces. Wax eliminator was shown to be necessary for complete wax removal. Conclusions: No standard technique exists amongst dental instructors for the preparation of denture teeth prior to acrylic resin polymerization. The use of a wax solvent is to be recommended.