Surveying
Dr. Mohamed Ashour
Assistant Professor of Removable Prosthodontic,
Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al- Azher University
The Component Parts
of Removable
Partial Dentures
The Component Parts
of Removable Partial Dentures
Denture Base
Artificial Teeth
Supporting Rests
Connectors: Major Connectors
Retainers
Minor Connectors
Direct retainers
Indirect Retainers
Surveying
It is the procedure of
locating and delineating
the contour and position
of the abutment teeth
and associated
structures before
designing a removable
partial denture
Why do we survey dental casts ?
and What are the objectives ?
A partial denture must be designed so
that it can be easily inserted and
removed by the patient,
It should be retained against reasonable
dislodging forces and have the best
possible appearance.
EssEntial
tErminology
Undercut
Survey line
Guiding planes
Path of insertion and
path of removal of the
denture.
Undercuts on Teeth:
Is a dig or a burrow lie below the height
of contour .
Height of contour:
which is the most bulbous and convex
part of the tooth, also called maximum
bulge .
The Survey Line
Is a line outlined on the cast by A surveyor
marking the greatest prominence of tooth
contour (height of contour)
Definitions
Height of contour
Undercut = Infrabulge
Suprabulge
Undercut: An undercut is formed when the
base of an object is smaller than
its top
Undercut Area
No undercut
Survey line
Undercut Area
Types of undercuts
Tooth Undercuts
(Proximal undercuts)
Soft Tissues or bony
Undercuts(on lingual
side of ridge)
Partially edentulous mouth has
many undercuts that result due to
I- Bulbous shape of the crowns of natural
teeth resulting in buccal and lingual
undercuts.
2- The inclination of the long axes of teeth
in relation to A vertical line
3- The inclination of soft tissues or bone
to A vertical line
4- Proliferation of soft tissues covering the
edentulous ridge
Types of undercuts
1-Desirable Undercuts
2-Undesirable Undercuts
All the Undercuts are
Undesirable undercuts
Except
That used for denture retention
Components of
metallic removable
partial dentures are all
rigid,
with the exception of
the flexible retentive
clasp arm located in
an undercut area for
retaining the
restoration against
Flexible clasp arm engaging
dislodging forces
tooth undercut
Path of insErtion
and
Path of rEmoval of a
dEnturE
Path of Insertion
The direction in which a restoration moves
from the point of initial contact with the
supporting teeth to the terminal resting
position where the occlusal rests are seated
and the denture base is in contact with the
tissue
Path of Removal
The direction of movement of the restoration
from its resting position to the last contact
with the supporting teeth". It is the reverse
of the path of insertion
Selection of The Path of Insertion
The Most Favorable Path of Insertion (PI) Is
That Perpendicular to the Occlusal Plane
Most Patients Tend to Seat Their
Dentures Under Biting Force
If
If
Displacement of the Prosthesis Is Anticipated
With the Least Displacing Forces
Undercuts
are Present but Not Efficient at
the Zero Tilt
Another Path of Insertion
Should Be Decided
Factors Affecting Path of Insertion
Interferences
- Changing the path of insertion
- Contouring the tooth surface
- Surgery to remove interfering structures
- Retentive undercuts
should be equal in depth and permit the location
of clasp tips in the gingival third of the tooth
- Esthetics
Made possible with less clasp metal and less
base material displayed
Health of teeth used as abutment
Place the clasp on the stronger abutment
Guiding planes
Guiding planes
Flat Axial Surfaces
In an occluso-gingival direction
on the proximal or lingual
surfaces of teeth.
Parallel To The Path Of Insertion
Help in guiding the prosthesis
during insertion and removal
Guiding planes
The functions of guiding planes
Guide the prosthesis in or out of place
without exerting excessive forces against
the teeth
The frictional contact of the prosthesis
against these parallel surfaces, contribute
to the retention of the prosthesis
Provide bracing and stability when they
are located on the axial lingual surface
of the tooth
Lowering the Height of Contour
Guide the prosthesis in or out of place without
exerting excessive forces against the teeth
Aid in Stabilizing the Prosthesis Against
Horizontal Stress
THE DENTAL SURVEYOR
It is a paralleling instrument
used to determine the survey
line of teeth, identify and
measure tooth undercuts and
to determine the relative
parallelism of the surfaces of
teeth and other areas on the
cast
Parts of the
Dental Surveyor
A- The Base
B- Vertical Upright Column
C- Cross Arm with Spindle Housing
D- The Vertical Spindle With Tool
Holder
E- Screw To Lock The Spindle
F- Tool Holder
H- The Surveyor Table
M- Ball Retaining Ring
N- Tool Rack
O- Storage Compartment
Surveying Tools
1- Analyzing Rods
2- Carbon Marker
3- Undercut Gauge
4- Wax Trimmer
Analyzing Rod
ggg
Carbon Marker
False survey line
X
Moved around the tooth
and along the alveolar
ridge
Undercut Gauges
Of an inch
??? of mm.
Undercut Gauges
. 01
01
. 02
02
. 03
03
Undercut Gauge
Excessive retention areas: Require
tooth alteration to lower the height of
contour so we can keep the I-bar
retention contact close to the cervical
1/3
Undercut Gauges
Wax Trimmer
Wax Trimmer
OBJECTIVES OF
SURVEYING
Permit an Accurate Charting of the Required
Mouth Preparations
Determine the Most Acceptable Path of
Placement and Removal
Determine the relative parallelism of teeth
surfaces that act as guiding planes
Determine soft, bony or tooth undercuts and
areas of interferences
Identify and Measure Tooth Undercuts
Delineate Height of Contour
Trimming Blockout Material Parallel to the
Path of Placement
Recording the Cast Position
PRINCIPLES OF
SURVEYING
1- Interference
Features of the mouth which interfere with
easy insertion and removal of a denture
Examples
Undercut Alveolar Ridges The labial undercut
here is a source of interference
Mandibular Tori
Severe Lingual Inclination Of Teeth
Recontouring the tooth surface
The prosthesis can goes smoothly into place
without interference after analyzing the proximal
tooth surfaces and making the necessary alteration
The location of the undercut area can be
changed by changing the tilting
The location of the undercut area can be
changed by tilting the cast anteriorly or lateral
A Cast in a Tilted
Relationship
Represents a Path
of Placement
Toward the Side
of the Cast That Is
Tilted Upward
Cast at zero tilt.
Creation of undercut by tilting cast
Without guiding planes, Clasps designed are
ineffective when restoration is subject to dislodging
forces in occlusal direction.
Selection of The Path of Insertion
The Most Favorable Path of Insertion (PI) Is
That Perpendicular to the Occlusal Plane
Most Patients Tend to Seat Their
Dentures Under Biting Force
If
Undercuts are Present but
Not Efficient at the Zero Tilt
If
Displacement of the Prosthesis Is
Anticipated With the Least Displacing
Forces
Another Path of Insertion Should
Be Decided
Selection of the Path of Insertion
1- A Rotating or Curved Path
2- Tilting the Cast to
Create Suitable Undercuts
Equalize Undercuts on both Sides of the Arch
Place the Clasp Tips in a Better Esthetic Po.
Undercut Areas Should Be Present at Both
Zero Tilt and the New Tilt
Gross Inclination of the Cast to Create
Apparent Undercuts Should Be Avoided
PROCEDURES of SURVEYING
1- Placement of the Cast
2- Altering the Cast Position Anteroposteriorly
To Provide Parallel Proximal Surfaces That May
Act As Guiding Planes by
3- Tilt the Cast Laterally Until Equal Retentive
Areas Exist on the Principal Abutments
4- Eliminate Areas of Interference by Reshaping
Tooth Surfaces
5- Permits a More Esthetic Placement of
Clasp Arms Than the Othe
After Selection of the Proper Path of
Insertion, the Cast Is Secured in Place
* Drawing of the Survey Line
* Location of the clasp terminals
* Blocking the Undesirable
Undercuts
* Tripoding or Scoring
Tripoding the Cast
Scoring the Cast
Tripoding Or
Scoring are
Performed
While the
Master Cast is
Still Mounted
on the Survey
Table Without
Changing the
Tilt to
Preserve the
Established
Cast Tilt
