Thanks AJEL - I understand the 'design' now. I just waxed a strut for my patient 2 weeks ago and will try to post photo next time - but instead of a post for the porcelain flatback teeth, it simply extended inside the tooth so that we can help to take some of the stress of oppsing teeth on very tight space. Mark - I don't think it is experimentation on innocent people when we tell them up front the limitations and the fact that the alternative would be a full-mouth reconstruction to open up the vertical and they cannot do it for medical or what ever reasons. At least a removable prosthesis is less irreversible than cutting some 20 teeth for full coverage restorations. I think in real clinical practice, and the key word here is 'practice' because there are no double blind study on the myriad conditions that present itself clinically, the provider and lab partners are often tasked to come up with solutions that can be unique or modified from bread and butter dentistry. I would not fault AJEL from being creative to try to solve a clinically challenging problem - because he has taken the time and forethought to consider pros and cons knowing his material and their limitations. I am sure you have been put in that position before - and as long as we use proven, tested material to apply to clinical situations, that should be totally legit. It is always a fine line between doing the right thing and taking a chance. I would rather have people like you good folks make that decision than someone totally out to make a bulk and taking short cuts.
Just my 2 cents worth.
LCM