Border Molding

Shaping borders of
impression tray
Functional or manual
manipulation of tissues
Duplicates contour & size
of vestibule
Border Molding
Performed with
Thermoplastic modeling
compound
Waxes
Impression materials
Tray Wax Spacer
Remains in place during border
molding procedures
Custom Tray
Comfortable
2-3 mm from vestibule
Dry periphery of tray
(Compound will not
stick to tray otherwise)
Heating Compound
Use Bunsen Burner
not Hanau Torch
Warm until it starts
to droop
Do not overheat if
catches fire or boils,
it will not mold
properly
Compound Application
Apply over
periphery of tray, in
a thickness just
slightly narrower
than the compound
stick
Re-soften After Application
Flame with a hand
torch until all seams
or sharp contours
have disappeared
Do not melt wax
spacer inside tray
Preventing Slumping
Hold the tray upside down so
that compound droops toward
the depth of the vestibule
Tempering Compound
Temper in a water bath (135-140F)
for several seconds
Prevent burning
Hot water bath will keep compound
soft for an extended period
Wax Spacer
Keep out of hot water bath
to prevent melting
Difficult to replace tray
intraorally in the same
position
Results in uneven border
molding
Prepare Patient
Patient seated, head
against headrest,
mouth open & relaxed
If patient opens wide,
commisures constrict,
limiting access
Inserting the Custom Tray
Place intraorally by
rotating into place
Mold by pulling on
the cheeks, lips
Have patient make
functional
movements
After Removal
Chill in cold water
Trim excess over wax
spacer or external
material that is thicker
than 4-5 mm
Clean debris from tray
Assessing Peripheral Role
Proper thickness
No overlap
Burnthrough
Difficult to see (opaque)
Relieve tray
After Trimming
If border is sharp or
has seams, re-flame,
temper and readapt
intraorally
Repeat until
periphery is
completed
Border Molding
Dont reduce border molding
prior to final impression if:
Modern low viscosity materials
are used
Sufficient relief (spacer + holes)
Maxilla - Seating the Tray
Seat tray firmly in mid-palatal
area during border molding
procedures
Maxilla - Contouring
Mold posterior
buccal by pulling
cheek down &
forward with
slight circular
movement
Functional Movements
Patient moves mandible side to
side & opens wide
Molds the retrozygomal area
Allows for movement of coronoid
process
Prevents impingement of
pterygomandibular raphe
Maxilla - Labial Frenum
Pull lip outward & downward
Do not pull to one side
Maxilla - Labial Frenum
Labial frenum
should be narrow
Buccal frena
usually broader,
V-shaped
Maxilla - Posterior Border
Add compound across the top of
the tray (not at the edge)
Maxilla - Posterior Border
Terminates at vibrating line
and hamular notches
Mark with an indelible stick
Insert tray & check visually
Evaluating Border Molding
Relatively symmetrical
Evaluating Maxillary Border
Molding
Retentive
Mandible
More difficult
Changing position of the floor
of the mouth
Posterior Buccal Areas
Pull cheek upward while holding
tray in place
Have patient suck cheeks inward
while holding tray in place
Retromolar Pad
Should be covered (at least
partially) to provide a seal and
comfort to the patient
External Oblique Ridge
Dont extend past EOR
Palpate cheek at angle
of the mandible
Smooth transition
between mandible &
border - not palpable
Buccal Extension
Look for fold in vestibule
Masseter Muscle
Distal buccal extension
Patient closes against force
Activates the masseter, which
will displace the compound
Mandibular Frenal Attachments
Labial frenum is narrow
pull lip straight up,
not as exaggerated as maxilla
Buccal frena broad & V-shaped
Posterior Lingual Areas
Have patient touch their tongue
to the corners of the mouth, to
the palate and stick their tongue
out of their mouth
Posterior Lingual Areas
An S shaped lingual flange
commonly results in posterior
lingual area
Retromylohyoid Space
Distolingual border can
extend
Straight down from the
retromolar pads
Anteriorly to varying
degrees
Almost never angles
posteriorly from
retromolar pads
Posterior Lingual Areas
Lower border at or
slightly below
mylohyoid ridge
but not deeply into
the undercut below
the ridge,
Minimizes,
abrasion and
discomfort
Buccal
Attachments
To Hyoid
Mylohyoid
Ridge
X-section through
Mandibular ridge
in 2nd Molar region
Posterior Lingual Areas
Denture should not lift with
normal tongue movements
Anterior Lingual
Patient lifts tongue to palate, to
corners of mouth and sticks
tongue out
Hold tray in place denture
should not lift with normal
tongue movement