USE OF ALUMINUM STRIPS TO FABRICATE VERIFICATION JIG FOR AN IMPLANT-SUPPORTED FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE

Verification of the accuracy of the master cast for an implant-support ed fixed partial denture will reduce the chair time and laboratory cos ts of implant prosthodontic treatment. A wire is usually luted in the mouth to machined components that have been secured to the implants, a nd the luted assembly is then transferred to the cast to evaluate the positional accuracy of the implant analogs. Unless this wire is dead s oft, inaccuracies as a result of elastic memory of the wire can occur. Also, if the wire is not completely rigid, it can be distorted during handling. This article describes a more reliable verification jig for an implant-supported fixed partial denture that can be fabricated wit h 1.5 mm thick aluminum strips that are luted to the implant component s. The use of two aluminum strips creates a metal framework that is ri gid and not easily distorted. Also the aluminum pieces do not have ela stic memory because they were cut and not bent to shape.