Study models...start to finish....

[labdude]

This is going to be long and will take a few posts to do. While simplistic, there may be some tid bits in here that will help in the making of even every day work models. Focus will be straight at orthodontic study models.
Also...no spell check, sorry.

Receiving of the work.
Most times you will get an alginate impression. Sometimes a cast that needs to be duplicated.
Best alginate for an office to use is Jeltrate. Reason: shelf life is the best over all. Some alginates will break down and become slimy on the surface. This will cause loss of detail and even incorporate the slimy material that has leached out of the alginate, into the surface of your model. It will set into many different and equally useless surfaces. Most being like a surface crust that flakes away while you try to deatil (remove small bubbles etc.) form the gingival lines and tooth surfaces. Always try to get an office to use Jeltrate if you have a surface or water marking problem.
Impressions should not have the lower tongue space filled by the office. Sometimes this works o.k., most times this filler gets on and covers up useful tissue and also the gingival and lingual tooth surface. This leaves you with guess work repair. The girls don't really have time to do these things carefully every time, it takes a load of their job if they don't have to do it. Best to have it left alone. Later in the post I will describe how to remove the tongue space material quickly and neatly. Tell the office to let it be.
A moistened paper towel rolled and placed carefully in the ridge area will keep it from distorting. Some offices use cotton rolls. Some will use nothing. Impressions need to be ligthly wrapped in moist paper towel and placed in a sealed plastic bag. A few impressions can fit in a single box. Provide the office with the plastic bags.
A bite wax should be requested, or make one of the upper or lower right after pour up. Carve the patients initials in the bite wax. This can save you in so many ways it would take days to describe.

later.....