title: Hinged single piece putty index for preclinical demonstration of tooth preparation for fixed partial dentures and crowns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different types of indices are being used for assessment of tooth preparation. All these indices are used to visualize tooth preparations in a particular plane. A single versatile index which could help to visualize tooth preparations in different planes is non-existent. The need for fabrication of such an index and its reliability is of utmost important to provide quality tooth preparations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study is to fabricate a hinged single piece sectioned index which could be used to visualize tooth preparation in different planes and check its reliability in-vitro on phantom models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten preclinical students were selected in random for preparing three teeth each. The three teeth preparations are classified as Group A, Group B and Group C based on the non-usage of index, usage of sectioned index and hinged single piece sectioned index respectively. Students were made to do provisional restorations after the tooth preparations. Then a questionnaire was given to students to score the duration/accuracy/comfort during tooth preparation and duration/accuracy of provisional restorations for each of the Groups A,B and C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group C, 90% of students found the final preparation to be very accurate. The time taken for fabrication of provisional restoration using sectioned hinged index by 60% of Group C students was 20 to 30 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This hinged index is a viable option when accuracy of tooth preparation and speedy fabrication of provisional restoration is required.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Substitute Dental Sciences, College of dentistry, King khalid University , Abha, Saudi Arabia .
authors.lastname: Leoney
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Substitute Dental Sciences, College of dentistry, King khalid University , Abha, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Shallabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Accuracy; Fabrication; Restoration