The Pankey Institute

The Art of Full Contour Waxing

Led by Lee Culp, CDT

The attainment of perfection in the duplication of natural dentition is the ultimate achievement in contemporary functional-esthetic dentistry. Understanding the complex relationship between tooth form and function, and how they relate and combine to create the aesthetics of natural dentition, is the basis of study for achieving predictable success in oral reconstruction.

With the aid of lecture and instructor demonstration, you will explore the CULP-ORAL SCULPTURE system of mapping teeth into individual areas and addressing those areas with their functional and aesthetic concerns. Of utmost importance in the creation of natural tooth morphology is the modeling of the materials. We will approach this aspect in a very precise and systemized format that will allow you to complete all coronal contours and occlusal anatomy in the modeling process. You will be given a structured approach for creating natural anatomical form, while balancing symmetry and asymmetry and subtle shape and functional nuances.

This in-depth, hands-on workshop is specifically designed for technicians and dentists who desire to achieve a truly meaningful perspective of natural tooth form, as it relates to restorative situations. In order to maximize your learning potential and raise the level of expertise in the study of occlusion, each day will have an expanded format that focuses on a specific region, yet be uniquely coordinated for the ultimate completion of every tooth in the entire oral situation. Each tooth will be individually waxed to full contour, with major emphasis placed on shape, function and anatomical detail, thus providing a more complete understanding of tooth form and its relationship to the masticatory system. You will complete each anterior and posterior tooth on both the maxillary and mandibular arches utilizing proven systematic teaching techniques that can be implemented immediately for daily use.

Course instruction will be provided through various multimedia presentation formats, combined with detailed and structured interaction-demonstration with extensive hands-on student participation.

Learning objectives:

• Exploring the beauty of function from A to Z
• Six steps for creating anterior tooth shape
• Six steps for creating posterior tooth shape
• Creating “organic” tooth morphology
• Positive-Negative techniques for creating tooth form
• How tooth morphology affects function and aesthetics
• Systematic wax up technique for establishing ideal tooth morphology
• Recognizing the common anatomical denominators in each tooth
• Practical, proven methods for incorporating these techniques for everyday use.