Spot-welded wire hooks as seating guides for resin-bonded castings

A technique is described to assist in accurate positioning of cast metal, resin-bonded prostheses. The method is particularly useful for the recementation of castings but can also be used with new restorations. A piece of rectangular chrome alloy arch wire is annealed and spot-welded to the retainer. The wire is then adapted to lie over the incisal edge of the abutment tooth and forms a locating device during trying in and cementing of the restoration. The wire hook assists in the handling of the casting at chairside and is easily snapped off after cementation, leaving little finishing to be completed. The technique permits access to all of the marginal surfaces at cementation and offers certain advantages over existing alternative techniques.