Criteria and procedures for cast trimming

Joseph B. Miller, A.A.S.,* and James G. Burch, D.D.S., M.Sc.**

1Jniversity of Kentucky, College of Dentistry, Lexington, Ky.

D iagnostir dental casts show the existing status of the oral cavity and mastica-
tory system. They aid in examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Cast
accuracy is always required. However, certain casts must be mounted on an artic-
ulator while others offer sufficient data when unmounted. Proper cast trimming
enhances the use of diagnostic casts whether mounted or unmounted. This article
presents the objectives and step-by-step procedures for trimming both types of
diagnostic casts.

UNMOUNTED CASTS
Objectives

Completed unmounted casts should meet the following criteria :

1. They should have symmetrical mandibular and maxillary bases.
2. Distal ends should be perpendicular to the plane of occlusion and the median
sagittal raphe.
3. Distal ends of both casts should lie in the same plane, preserving hamular
notches, the vibrating line, and retromolar pads.
4. Bases should be parallel to the occlusal plane and /s to s$+ inch thick.
5. The sides of both casts in the posterior areas should be parallel with depth
of vestibule from the canine region to the second molar region and equidistant from
the median sagittal raphe at corresponding anteropostcrior locations. This is
determined with the maxillary cast.
6. The bilateral posterior corners of both casts should be symmetrical and should
approximately bisect the angle betvvecn the distal ends and sides of the bases.
7. The anterior part of the mandibular cast base should be a symmetrical arc
at the depth of the vestibule from one canine region to the opposite one.
8. The anterior region of the maxillary cast base should be symmetrical and
straight bilaterally from the depth of the vestibule in the canine regions to the
depth of the vestibule between the central incisors (at the midline).

*Senior Laboratory Technician, Division of Occlusion.

**Associate Professor and Director of Occlusion.

843
844 Mitrer and BUTC~I

9. The casts should bc frw of voids (negative bubble5 /

10. They should be free of hl&s (positive bubbles)
1 I. The casts should ha\~b smooth surfaws.

Procedure

Prior to trimming, the casts must (1 / ;wcuratc4y reproduw the shape ~2 thy
hard and soft, tissues of thr mouth including the xwtibular rrflections. ( 2: he
po~~rrd with a well-mixed dental stone, (3) 11;~\.e bases csxterlding latcr;rlly. ;rnterior-
ly. and I)osteriorly ;it least ;I; inch beyond the vestihular rrflections, hanlular notc.hcs.
and retromolar pads, and i-1- I bc at least $4 inch thivk in the palatal and tongue-
spare rqions.

I. 7rirn the distal end of the maxi&r\ cast J)erpendicular to the plane v f
occlusion and to the median qittal raphc. Preparc ;1 cushion of folded paper
to\vrls or 21 shec,t of LVBX on the cast trirnrnfxr platforln to prevent damage to the
cast teeth (Fig. 1 I Place the cast with the teeth resting on the cushiofl. Keep thp
teeth firm against the cushiori. Visually confirm the t.uttirlg to be yrpendic7~int
with the median sagittal r;lphv ( Fig. 21
II. Trim the top of the base. J<ernove thr. ctlshion fronl the trimnlrr plattorl~~.

Srt the distal end of tht. nlaxillar!. cast Jirmlb- on thv platform (Fig. % . Trim thv
top of the base J~ar&l to the plane of occlttsion tInti the thickness of the ~ZISC is
~16 to !A inch (Fig. 4, A \
3. Irirn the sides of the base of the nl;rxillary c,;r3t. Mark the depth or- :ht:
\-estibule beside earh canine and second n~olar tooth iFix. 4, RI A linr between
the canine and second-molar indirators becot~~~ the guideline for trimwing. Trim
by cutting parallel to these #uides, and rnakv the coast base bilaterallv sylrmic*tricaJ
(Fig. 4. C I.
1. Next, trim the anterior part of the rtyaxillary cast. Place a mark in tht
Volume 30 Cast trimming 845
Number j

Fig. 2. Trimming of the distal end of the base of the cast is visually confirmed to be perpendir-
ular to the median sagittal raphe preserving the hamular-notch area.

Fig. 3. (A) The top surface of the base of the maxillary cast is trimmed perpendicular to thr
distal surface as indicated in B.

depth of the vestibule at the midline between the central incisors (Fig. 4, D) A
line from each canine vestibular mark to this midline reference point becomes the
guideline to which the anterior part of the base of the cast is trimmed: Trim to
these lines for symmetry (Fig. 4, E) .
5. Trim the posterior corners of the base of the cast by approximately bisecting
the angle made by the distal end and the sides of the cast (Fig. 4, E) .
Mandibular cast trimming.
1. Use the maxillary cast as a guide in shaping the base of the mandibular cast.
Place the wax interocclusal record between the teeth of the casts. Adapt the teeth
to the imprints. Hold the two casts together firmly (Fig. 5, A) .
2. Place the top of the base of the maxillary cast on the trimmer platform. Trim
846 Miller and Burch

Fig. 4. (A) The top surface of the maxillary cast is madr parallel to thr r~clusal plane.
(B) Small x marks (arrow) indicate the depth of the ve~tib& adjacent to thr canine and
second molars. (C) The trimmed surface is approximately parallel to the l)u(.cal surfaces (,I
posterior teeth. (0) The vestibular depth is marked at the midline (UYYO~) brtwern the centrat
incisors. (E) Posterior corners of the maxillary cast arc trimmed to approximately hitect the
an,~lc made by the side and distal end of the cast,

the distal end of the mandibular cast until it is parallel and irt the sanw plarte with
the distal end of the maxillar)- cast. Do not remove stoncb from the m;txillar\- cast
while shapin,q the mandibular cast.
Ii. Trim the bottom of the base of the rnandibuhu c.ast i Pig. 5. ii I Keel) both
the maxillary and mandibular casts in the interocclusal record. Place both casts on
their distal ends. Trim the bottom side of the mandibular cast base to a thickness 01
3/a to s/4 inch in the tongue space. Ihe top of the maxillary cast base is now parallel
with the bottom of the mandibular cast base.
4.. Shape the sides of the mandibular cast bascb (Fig. 5. ,!I and C). Keep the casts
firmly seated in the interocclusal record. The posterior parts of the sides are trimriled
to be parallel and lie in the same plane with those aspects of the maxillary c;rst,
bilaterally. Remove no stone from the maxillary cast while shaping the mandibular
cast.
5. Trim the posterior corners of the base of tlte mandibular cast to the same
plane as that of the maxillary cast (Fig. 5, D !
6. Trim the anterior part of the base of the mandibular rast differently-. Place
\'olumc
Number
:io
5
Cast trimming a47

Fig. 5. (A) The mandibular and maxillary casts are adapted to the wax interocclusal record.
Trimming has been done on the distal end of the mandibular cast. (B) The side of the base
of the mandibular cast is trimmed parallel to and in the same plane with the corresponding
surface of the maxillary cast. (C) The opposite side of mandibular cast is trimmed. (D) The
posterior corner of mandibular cast is trimmed to correspond with the posterior corner of the
maxillary cast.

marks next to each canine to indicate the depth of the vestibule at the midline.
Trim this part of the base of the mandibular cast to a symmetrical arc extending
from a point in the depth of the vestibule beside one canine, through the midline
indicator, to the opposite canine guide.
Finishing maxillary and mandibular casts.
1. Confirm symmetry and parallelism.
2. With a sharp laboratory knife, remove any sharp edges of stone where the
tissue surfaces meet the trimmed surfaces.
3. Kemove the rough edges of stone from the land surface in the tongue space.
4. Remove the small positive bubbles from all surfaces of the cast.
5. Fill any voids on the basal (impression) surface of the cast using a small
brush and wet stone. Fill all voids in the base of the cast with a thick mixture of
wet stone and rub the mixture into the cast with a finger.
6. Smooth the flat surfaces with wet sandpaper when the mixture is set. Do not
round the edges.

CASTS FOR MOUNTING

Objectives
The completed casts, ready for mounting, should be prepared as follows:
1. Trim the anterior and lateral aspects of the casts to the depth of the vestibule.
2. Make sure the maxillary tuberosities and the mandibular retromolar pads are
reproduced in the casts.
3. Taper the outer surfaces of the base of the cast from the depths of the
848 Miller and Burch

Fig. 6. (A) Casts which are to be mounted on an articulator are removed from irnpressio~r~.
and retention lugs are added. (B) The cast is trimmed to 1h(1 vestibular depth end tapewd
toward the mounting surface. (C) The size and shape of the mountinS surfaw approximatr
those of the mounting plate. (D) The retention lugs arc shortr-nrd. (Ej A finished cast is read)
for mounting. Note the tapered base and retention 1~13s with undrrcuts.

vestibules, maxillary tubcrositks. and retromolar J>ads to\\xd the Inountlrlq surfaw
to attain a size and form approximating that of the mountiIlg plate.
4. Rcmovr any parts of the casts reprewnting soft tissues that n~;,y interierr
Lvith complete closure of the casts into the intc~roc~clu\ai rwclld.
5. Both casts should contain retention Jrcgs with ~rncltwuts to Jxovitlr~ Inwhanicni
retention for the mounting stow.
6. Trim the retention lugs and cast bases to alloy the :~r.ticulator to c,iow lo ,I
position at which the upprr and lower mrmbcrs of the articulator will be parallel.

Procedure

Prior to trimming. casts which are to be rnountcd on an articulator must meet

requirements approximate to thaw of unmounted cxts. Add small increments of
dental stone to the bases of the casts to proxide retrntion for the mounting stone
iFiK. 6, A). The thickness of the base of the cast lrlay bc less than :), inch. Tfw
mandibular cast base rnust include a land of stone in thcl tongue space.
The armamentarium is thr same as for preparing umnounted casts.
Cast trimming.
I. Trim the sides and anterior parts of both casts medially to the depth of the
 Cast trimming a49

vestibule (Fig. 6, B) . Taper these side cuts from the vestibular depth toward the
mounting surface making the mounting surface smaller to attain a size and shape
approximating that of the mounting plate (Fig. 6, C) .
2. Trim the posterior aspects of the bases of both casts. Preserve the hamular
notches and vibrating line of the maxillary cast. Preserve the retromolar pads of
the mandibular cast. Taper these posterior cuts to attain a mounting surface which
is smaller in diameter than the cast base at the level of the vestibular reflection.
3. Reduce the length of the retention lugs of both casts (Fig. 6, D) . Eliminate
any interference with articulator closure. Preserve the undercuts for retention of the
mounting stone (Fig. 6, E) .
4. Remove all positive bubbles from all surfaces of the casts.
5. Remove any soft-tissue areas which may interfere with closure to occlusal
contact or placement of interocclusal records.
6. Evaluate the casts according to the above criteria for casts which are to be
mounted on the articulator.
The casts are now prepared for mounting.

SUMMARY

Other techniques for cast preparation have been described.lm4 However, the
techniques for trimming unmounted and mounted casts described in this article
(1) allow fabrication of casts which fulfill the needs of most practicing dentists, (2)
offer accuracy for examination, treatment planning, and consultation, and (3)
offer professionally appealing dental casts. Only standard and commonly used dental
materials and instruments are necessary. Criteria are defined which aid in evalua-
tion of completed casts.

References

1. Graber, T. M.: Orthodontic Principles and Practices, ed. 2, Philadelphia, 1966, W. B.

Saunders Company, pp. 406-415.
2. Anderson, G. M.: Practical Orthodontics, ed. 9, St. Louis, 1960, The C. V. Mosby Com-
pany, pp. 240-245.
3. Hotz, R.: Orthodontia in Everyday Practice, Philadelphia, 1961, J. B. Lippincott Company,
p. 60.
4. Gresham, H.: A ManuaI of Orthodontics, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1957, N. M. Peryer
Limited, pp. 88-90.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
LEXINGTON, KY. 40506