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The use of radiation shields in the head and neck cancer patient receiving adjuvant radiation therapy is a treatment alternative for protecting anticipated prosthetic implant sites. Shields can be fabricated easily as part of an interdisciplinary treatment protocol. In this article, the methods used to fabricate an extraoral radiation shield are described, and a patient treatment that illustrates possible uses of the shield for both extraoral and intraoral sites is presented.

Modifying a Super-Sep bottle by adding a brush to the lid for paint-on use allows for the precise application of the separating medium used when flasking dentures. Super-Sep offers many advantages over other commonly used separating mediums: It is virtually dimensionless, allowing for better accuracy; it dries quickly and functions best on moist stone; and it can be poured against immediately. The latter fact means less time is needed before the subsequent layers of stone can be applied when denture flasking.

Statement of Problem: Casting relief is required for proper seating of castings to allow for luting agent thickness. The application of die spacer to the die is the most common method of obtaining casting relief. Die spacer film thicknesses that are outside the ideal range of 25 to 40 microm can cause clinical problems. Thickness can be affected by the separation of die spacer constituents, which may not be reconstituted by mixing, in the bottle and by the evaporation of volatile components while the bottle is open., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of component evaporation and die spacer mixing technique on applied die spacer thickness., Material and Methods: Bottles of Gold Tru-fit die spacer were left open for 0, 1, 4, 8, and 24 hours at 22 degrees C. Spacer solutions were shaken either by hand per the manufacturer's directions or on a dental vibrator for 1 minute. One even brush stroke of spacer was applied to clean glass slides. Three die spacer films were made for each combination of time and mixing technique. Eighteen thickness measurements per sample at various sites were recorded with profilometer tracings. Statistical differences were determined with a 2-way ANOVA., Results: Handshaking provided greater die spacer thickness, which increased with the time that the bottle was open. Vibration provided lower thickness with no statistical increase with time., Conclusion: Insufficient agitation caused lower film thickness. Excessive evaporation caused higher film thickness.

A procedure is described for the fabrication of a 3-dimensional surgical template to guide the placement of implants to retain an auricular prosthesis. This procedure requires a diagnostic wax pattern that is checked while on the patient to ensure it is positioned correctly and is also the correct size. The wax pattern is processed into a clear, methyl methacrylate resin, 3-dimensional surgical template. The most effective type of surgical template for planning implant placement is a 3-dimensional acrylic template that closely resembles the final prosthesis. This template will direct the implant placement where the retentive elements are most easily concealed, under the thickest areas of the prosthesis, which are the antihelix and antitragus. This location allows the best esthetic and functional results. An additional advantage of this technique is that it allows the retrieval of the diagnostic wax pattern of the auricle so that it can be used to fabricate the definitive prosthesis.

The combination of retentive clips and magnets has been used with favorable results for smaller facial prostheses. This patient's large midfacial defect created the need for an attachment design that would retain an intraoral obturator prosthesis and a large silicone facial prosthesis. The advantages of this design include having an obturator that is separately attached by clips to the framework. This allows the patient more ease in insertion and removal of the prosthesis. It also allows for better oral hygiene. The magnets aid the patient in the proper alignment of the facial prosthesis. The O-ring attachment was not a complicated technique in this patient's treatment. The patient can, without the use of a mirror, snap the rubber matrix O-ring attachment over the patrix attachment on the framework. This resulted in a retentive facial prosthesis, which helped the patient feel more secure. The silicone margins were well adapted to the patient's skin, which allows the use of thin translucent margins and the elimination of the inherent problems associated with the use of adhesives.