ThermoPlasticBeads protocol

Place a tablespoon of thermoplastic beads into recently boiled water.  (microwaving water in a 1/3 full coffee mug works well), wait for the beads to turn clear.

The clear beads will coalesce and be sticking to each other.  The hotter the material is, the stickier it is.  As soon as the beads turn clear, pour the water out, and remove.  

Immediately Insert a portion of the putty into an NTI device to fill it to its borders.

DO NOT place any lubricant (vasoline for example) on the teeth or gloves.  It will prevent the putty from sticking to anything. 

Once the putty has been inserted into the device, you do not have to deliver the device to the mouth immediately...you can delay 30 seconds if you think the putty needs to "cool" a little bit.  Do not wait so long that the putty begins to opacify. 

Upon delivering into the mouth over the selected teeth, seat the device and adapt the extruded putty.  Adapt the putty laterally onto the incisors/canines that are not included within the device.  This enhances retention. You can extend the putty as far as necessary to acquire the desired necessity of retention.

Let sit for two minutes, then tease off half-way to release the seal and then immediately re-seat, repeating the "remove halfway and re-seat" maneuver several times.   As the putty will be holding its shape, any "through and through" putty in embrasures will have been disrupted.   It will seem to the practitioner that the "remove halfway and re-seat" technique will not allow for a "snap in" fit, but the opposite is true.  

Place the device-with-putty onto the bench to fully harden (and proceed to the opposing device if providing for opposing devices).  The putty will shrink a very tiny bit and provide a secure snap-in fit.  Placing the device into cool/cold water will enhance the shrinkage if a more retention is indicated. 

Re-deliver onto the patient's teeth.  If there is any binding or sensation of pressure or tightness to the patient, place the device on the bench and while using an alcohol torch, quickly "flame brush" the internals (two passes will be plenty) to gently soften the inner surface lining and immediately place device back onto patient's teeth.  It will most likely "glide" back on.  Confirm with the patient that the tight/binding sensation is gone.  Let it sit for another 30 seconds, remove and replace, then back ionto the bench. 

TRIMMING

The initial amount of putty placed into the device will dictate whether any trimming is required or not.  To remove any excess putty, use a safety razor blade to shave away and sculpt the excess material.  Upon completion, "flame brush" the sculpted surface, creating a slightly softened surface and place back in the mouth to be smoothed by direct contact with labial mucosa.   

A rotary instrument can be used, but with high speed and gentle brushing strokes to avoid "gumming up".

ADDING ON

To extend the device and enhance retention, "flame brush" the external surface at the distal ends of the device, to creating a sticky surface.  Place a new small blob of clear, sticky putty onto the sticky surface of the device.  Place device back into mouth and adapt the new blob onto and around the teeth distal to the device and let sit for another minute or two, then remove/replace twice, then into cold water. 

If the finished device binds upon redelivery, use the internal flame-brush technique described above to make ideal.