Overview: This article provides clinical best practices for completing a chairside pickup for an implant-supported overdenture, focusing on material management and polymerization.
Manage Excess Material with Exhaust Vents
To manage excess material during the overdenture pickup, drill lingual exhaust vents. Ensure these lingual exhaust vents connect directly into the relief holes to allow excess material to escape without causing pressure buildup.
Verify Material Polymerization
When placing auto-polymerizing material inside denture reliefs, the clinician must confirm the material has fully set.
Set a Material Timer
Use a timer to track the manufacturer-recommended setting time for the auto-polymerizing material.
Perform a Glove Test
Place a small amount of the auto-polymerizing material on a clinical glove. Test the material on the glove for polymerization to verify that the material inside the denture reliefs is also fully polymerized.