A STEP-BY-STEP CAST GOLD CLINICAL FINISHING TECHNIQUE

The principal theory behind this Technique is to reduce the surfaces of gold and tooth to the same plane while maintaining the integrity of the tooth.

Step 1. After anesthetic has been given, temporary removed and extra heavy rubber dam has been placed, the casting is 'tried in', the contacts checked, and if necessary adjusted. The casting is never fully seated until final cementation occurs.

Step 2. The internal of the casting and the cavity preparation are covered with a slow setting, not to thick, mix of cement, the casting is pressed firmly to place with hand pressure, malleted and the excess cement removed with a gauze sponge. This part of the step is repeated until no more cement is expressed at the margins.

Step 3. 1/2 inch medium garnet discs are used in the straight handpiece to reduce the gold and enamel to the same plane on all surfaces except the mesiolingual where the contra-angle is used. A fine diamond can be used for grooves and other concave areas. Air should be blown continuously on the tooth to prevent overheating during all discing, stripping, and polishing procedures.

Step 4. The previous step is now repeated using 1/2 inch fine sand discs. Any areas of the tooth that are soft are best disced with fine sand rather than medium garnet as the tooth structure will be reduced faster than the harder gold.

Step 5. The gingival margin is finished primarily with a narrow medium garnet extra-long strip tapered for an inch or inch and a half on one end for ease of insertion if the margin is in enamel.

Step 6. If the gingival margin lies on cementum, a narrow medium cuttle extra-long strip is used to finish the casting rather than the garnet strip. Care must be taken to prevent the ditching of the cementum.

Step 7. The previous step is repeated with a narrow fine cuttle extra-long strip to reduce the size of scratches.

Step 8. The previous step is repeated with a narrow, extra-fine cuttle, extra-long strip.

Step 9. Discing is now completed with fine cuttle discs until all scratches have been removed. Modified fg brownies and greenies can be used to remove scratches in the grooves and concave areas.

Step 10. A flour-of-pumice slurry in a soft ribbed rubber cup is used to start the polishing. The area is washed and dried before the next finer powder is used.

Step 11. The previous step is repeated with a clean rubber cup and 15 micron aluminum oxide.

Step 12. The previous step is repeated with a clean rubber cup and 1 micron aluminum oxide. Air coolant and suction is used while the cup is rotating and all three actions are stopped simultaneously for a final high luster.

Note: High rpm and a very light touch of the cuttle discs and the polishing powders will produce a casting with a high luster and a fine polish.