Reprinted from LMT 's June/July 2011 issue How to Process a Denture Using the Palajet System By Billy Goddard, AS, CDT D entures processed with the Palajet® injection system from Heraeus Kulzer offer excellent fit, occlusion and esthetics. Engineered for heat- and auto-cure acrylics, the system offers some distinct advantages. With the Palajet, a Duoflask and Palapress® vario acrylic, it’s possible to process two premium dentures in one flask, doubling efficiency while doing the same amount of work as traditional flasking. Because of the unique amen-free makeup of Palapress vario, the case can be processed in 30 minutes with no residual monomer. Palapress vario is dense, plaque resistant, color stable and has no peroxide that can burn a patient’s tissue, giving you the speed of cold-cure acrylic without its drawbacks. step 3 Invest both arches in the lower half of the flask, bringing the plaster to the edge of the wax; allow plaster to set. Step 1 This wax try-in has been approved by the patient and doctor and the dentures are ready for processing. step 2 Apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the top and bottom half of the DuoFlask and on the stone models. Place both arches in the lower half of the flask and check for clearance. step 4 After the plaster has fully set, sprue both arches for injection. Place a main feeder sprue from the injection hole to both arches and a main connector on the opposite side of the flask. Run a small vent sprue that connects to both arches and exits the flask through the vent hole. Next, apply a separator to the stone to allow for investing of the top half of the flask. I use HiSep from Hi-Tec Dental Products because it’s efficient and creates a perfect separation between stone-to-stone areas. I pour the HiSep onto the plaster stone areas and blow the excess off immediately. step 5 Secure the top half of the flask by tightening the flask bolts; it’s now ready to be invested. I use FloFlask, a stone blend from Hi-Tec Dental Products that has the strength of flasking stone combined with the working properties of flow stone; it picks up minute details very accurately. Mix and pour (vibration optional) the FloFlask to the top of the flask. step 6 Let the FloFlask set for 20 minutes and then place the flask in the boilout tank. step 7 After 10 minutes in the boilout tank, open the flask and clean any remaining wax from the flask. Place the diatorics and post dam. Clean the flask one more time and then apply the separating agent; I use Aislar® from Heraeus Kulzer. step 8 I use a dry cotton swab to remove the excess separator from the exposed teeth. Then I clean the teeth again with a cotton swab dipped in monomer, which removes any remaining particles. step 9 Using Heraeus Kulzer’s measuring device, measure the exact ratio of polymer to monomer for the case. The device has two vials: the larger one on the left is for polymer and the smaller, right vial is for monomer. If processing one arch, pour the polymer and monomer up to the first line; if processing two arches, pour to the second line. (Tip: Notice that the polymer vial is filled with roughly 75% pink and 25% clear polymer. When processed, the acrylic remains pink, creating a chameleon effect to blend in with each individual patient’s oral environment. step 10 Mix the polymer and monomer and transfer the mixed acrylic to the injection vial. Product Information For more information on the Palajet System, call Heraeus at 800-431-1785 or email customer.serviceHKNA@ heraeus.com. For information on HiSep or FloFlask, call Hi-Tec Dental Products at 800-859-2006. step 11 While waiting for the acrylic to reach the proper injection state, apply two coats of Heraeus Palabond® to the necks of the teeth to create a bond to the denture base. Palabond is a preconditioning material that creates a superior bond between acrylic teeth and the denture base, and it’s an excellent choice for repairing any acrylic product. step 14 Place the flask into the step 17 Using the Renfert plaster chisel, remove the remaining FloFlask stone from around the acrylic. Palamat Elite® pneumatic curing unit and cure for 20 minutes. The Palamet Elite comes preprogrammed with four curing temperatures and a built-in automatic pressure release timer. step 18 Use a stone wheel to remove the excess sprue acrylic. step 12 Secure the flask and the injection cylinder into the Palajet system. step 15 Open the flask and gently tap both sides of the stone through the open holes in the flask. Once the stone shell is free, use a Renfert plaster chisel to remove the stone from the models (lower half of flask). step 16 The sprues are ex- step 13 Turn the unit on to initiate the piston that forces the acrylic into the flask with 60 psi of pressure. Hold for 10 minutes and then flip the piston switch off to release the pressure and enable the flask to be removed. posed so use a fiber cut disk to separate the sprues as close to the models as possible. After all the sprues have been separated from the denture base, finish separating the two sides of the flask. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Billy Goddard, AS, CDT, is COO of East Tennessee Dental Restorations in Kingsport, TN, a full service laboratory founded by his father in 1984. He is trained in both fixed and removable and has trained chairside with prosthodontists and general dentists. Goddard also volunteers with the Virginia Dental Association’s Missions of Mercy. step 20 Use a chisel to remove the denture bases from the stone models. Place the dentures into a glass container filled with Patterson’s Plaster & Stone Remover and set the jar in an ultrasonic cleaner for approximately 10 minutes. step 19 Remount the denture arches and verify the final occlusion. PalajetReprintAd_0711:Layout 1 Palajet 7/14/2011 ® 2:51 PM step 21 After being pumiced and polished, the finished dentures are ready for delivery. Page 1 Denture Innovation – Evolved. The Palajet Advantage The Palajet, a pneumatic injection unit for the fabrication of full dentures, is adapted especially to suit the material properties of Palapress vario and Palaimpact. Extremely easy to use, the dosing system avoids errors, resulting in consistent processing properties. • Easy to use and requires minimal working space • Save up to 30% in processing time using the Palajet duoflask • Eliminates open bites due to lack of occlusal elevation • One unit to process both heat and cold cure acrylics Ask your sales specialist how you can receive a FREE Palajet! Palajet® is a registered trademark of Heraeus Kulzer GmbH. ©2011 Heraeus Kulzer, LLC 300 Heraeus Way South Bend, IN 46614 Phone: (800) 431-1785 Fax: (877) 271-5211 www.heraeusdentalusa.com 40005910