DIAGNOSTIC CAST AND

ITS USES
• Parts of a cast:
Diagnostic cast
• 1st appointment
• Alginate impression
A cast will contain
• Teeth: locations, contours, and occlusal plane relationship
• Residual ridge: contour, size,

• Oral anatomy: delineating the prosthesis extensions

Uses : 1
• Diagnostic casts are used to supplement the oral
examination by permitting a view of the occlusion from the
lingual and buccal aspects.
- analysis of occlusion
- analysis of over jet and over bite
 - inter occlusal space available
- presence of any interference

Helps to plan ahead before encountering any problem

Use : 2
• Permit to survey of the dental arch that is to be
restored.
• determine the parallelism or lack of parallelism of tooth
surfaces
• guiding planes,
• retentive and non-retentive areas
• interference to placement and removal
• esthetic effects of the selected path of insertion.
Use : 3
• permit a logical and comprehensive presentation to the
patient present and future restorative needs and the
hazards of future neglect.
• evidence of tooth migration
• effects of further tooth migration
• hazards of traumatic occlusal contacts
• cariogenic and periodontal implications of further neglect
Use : 4
• Custom/special trays may be fabricated on the diagnostic
casts
• the diagnostic cast may be used in selecting and fitting a
stock impression tray for the final impression.
Use : 5
• Diagnostic casts may be used as a constant reference as
the work progresses.
Use : 6
• Unaltered diagnostic casts should become a permanent
part of the patient's record

• records of conditions existing before treatment are just as

important like preoperative radiographs.