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Before starting this technique, it is important that you dry
the Proflex Clear Wire strips in a drying oven. Best results are in a
drying oven overnight, but you can heat the material in a small toaster oven
for ½ hour at about 200-225 degrees F. This is to dry the hydrophilic
Clear Wire material. If you notice bubbling later, you did NOT
dry the material sufficiently.
- Survey and design the clasp on the model. It is
helpful to draw the design directly onto the cast. Be careful to
design the clasp so the path of insertion, other clasps, and the overall
design are all taken into consideration.
- Block out sever undercuts. However, keep in mind
that you can use more undercuts with the Clear Wire material then you can
with traditional metal clasps.
- Duplicate the area of the cast to be clasped (silicone
putty works nicely for this), Normally this is only a quadrant of the
labial surface. Trim this quadrant model so it is flat or
horizontal to the work bench. This will allow you to lay the model
flat while you are adapting the clasp.
- The Clear Wire strips are long enough that you can hold
one end with your fingers or a small pliers. Heat the other end
with a small micro butane torch. Use indirect heat with a brushing
motion, and carefully heat the strip. Be sure not to hold the
flame in one location too long, as this will burn the Clear Wire
material.
- When the Clear Wire strip has softened and begins to
droop, lay the Clear Wire quickly over the tooth to be clasped.
Push down the molten clasp onto the quadrant model with a cool damp
paper towel. Again, practice with the material to get a feel for
when the material is soft enough for proper adaptation.
- IMPORTANT: After the first adaptation of the
Clear Wire you will probably want to continue heating the material to
readapt it. Reheating assures that the Clear Wire is adequately
adapted into the contours of the teeth. Be careful not to burn the
material. If the surface does turn light brown., it will normally
be removed when contouring the final clasp.
- Allow the Clear Wire to cool. Then draw the
design of the clasp on the surface of the Clear Wire strip. A
black sharpie or magic marker works well for this. The design
should be a little bigger than the final clasp.
- Gross trim the Clear Wire strip with a coarse white
wheel. Then use a carbide bur to make your gross trim
adjustments. Remove all of the design markings from Clear Wire
strip.
- Place the rough clasp back on the model. If
needed, reheat the material with a micro-torch and complete the final
adaptation of the clasp to the model. Please note, the material
may rise and then relax into place. It will take on a molten
shininess when it is ready to be finally adapted. At this time,
push clasp into place with a cool wet paper towel.
- Check to make sure that the clasp is adapted against
the model. If not, reheat and adapt again. It is helpful if
you hold the Clear Wire strip on the model with modeling or block out
compound. this will act as a third hand to hold the clasp while
you are adapting the rest of the strip.
- Finish the clasp with carbide burs or stones.
Polish using pumice and acrylic polishing compound.
- To attach the Clear Wire to an upcoming appliance,
attach the clasp to the metal frame with a little acrylic OR use sticky
wax to attach the clasp to the model before continuing partial
production.
- NOTE: DO NOT GET LIQUID MONOMER ON THE CLASP AT
ANY TIME. The monomer will cause the surface of the clasp to turn
cloudy.
- It is IMPORTANT to protect the clasp from contact with
liquid monomer. The best way to accomplish this is to place petroleum
jelly (Vaseline) on the clasp area that is NOT going to be embedded into
the final acrylic part of the partial. By placing the jelly on the
inside portion (tissue side) of the Clear Wire, this will protect this
surface from monomer contact. Then secure the clasp to the model
using a thin coat of base plate wax. the wax will protect the
outside surface of the Clear Wire from monomer contact.
- Next process the partial. It is best to use a
pour technique as it is the easiest way to incorporate the Clear Wire
into the newly made partial.
- Final finish the appliance. BE CAREFUL in
finishing the acrylic to not nick or cut the clasp as this will weaken
it. Also be careful when using a disk around Clear Wire so that
you do not nick or cut it.
NOTICE: Warn your dental accounts to be careful when working
around the clasp and be careful not to get any monomer on the clasp.
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