Lecture #2: Surveying

Karen L. Faraone, D.D.S., M.A.

Department of Endodontics,
Prosthodontics, and Operative Dentistry
General Goal: to understand
the principles of surveying
 Objectives:
• describe the surveyor and its accessories
• understand the uses of the surveyor
• understand the procedure for surveying a dental cast
• understand the effect of tilting the cast when surveying
• understand the procedure for measuring an undercut
• understand the concept of path of placement
• understand the concept of height of contour
• understand the procedure for blocking out undercuts
• understand the procedure for re-orienting a cast to the surveyor
(tripoding)
Dental Surveyor
A paralleling instrument used
in the fabrication of a
removable partial denture
 Surveying

The procedure of analyzing and delineating the contours of

the abutment teeth and associated structures before
designing a RPD
Purposes of surveying:
1. determine path of placement and removal
(path of draw)
2. determine guiding planes
3. delineate height of contour
4. evaluate tissue undercuts
5. delineate retentive areas
6. tripod cast to permit reorientation
video
1. determine path of placement and removal

the specific direction in which

a prosthesis is placed upon
the abutment teeth
whenever possible, casts should be surveyed with the
occlusal plane parallel to the base of the surveyor

path of placement should be perpendicular to the occlusal plane

-abutment tooth contours are usually favorable
-facilitates ease of placement by patient
video
2. determine guiding planes
• proximal tooth surfaces that are parallel
• define a path of placement
• contribute to stability of prosthesis
• ensure positive clasp action
3. Delineate height of contour on abutment teeth

A line encircling a tooth designating its greatest

circumference at a selected position

height of contour line

4. evaluate tissue undercuts

tissue undercut
 5. delineate retentive areas
• undercut areas are located between the height of contour and free
gingival margin
• accurately measure amount of undercut
• retentive areas are relative to path of draw

undercut gauge

height of contour line

undercut area below .010” undercut
height of contour
 Undercut gauges come in three sizes:
.010 inch, .020 inch, and .030 inch

The undercut gauge touches

the tooth at the height of
contour and again where the
precise undercut exists
6. tripod cast to permit reorientation to
surveyor
tripod marks should be spaced as far apart as
possible and on vertical surfaces
 To tripod a cast -
• the surveyor arm must be fixed - do not move the arm up or down for
any of the tripod marks
• the cast must be fixed
• the three points describe a plane which allows reorientation
 Effects of tilting a cast on a
surveyor
1. aligns potential guiding plane areas to allow for a more favorable
path of placement

2. redistributes undercuts

3. development of symmetrical gingival embrasure spaces for better

esthetics

4. may eliminate soft tissue interference

note how the height of contour changes
as the egg is tilted in the surveyor

undercut area
located below
height of contour
aligns potential guiding plane areas to allow
for a more favorable path of placement
redistributes undercuts

A. Zero degree tilt of cast when

surveying - undercuts are shallow
on left side and deep on right side

B. Cast is tilted thereby creating

more even undercuts for clasping
redistribute undercuts

Note height of contour lines with zero

degree tilt of cast

Note the change in the height of contour lines

when the cast is tilted anteriorly

Note the change in the height of contour

lines when the cast is tilted posteriorly
development of symmetrical gingival
embrasure spaces for better esthetics

A. Zero degree tilt allows a path of draw

that causes a large embrasure mesial to
#11 and a small embrasure distal to #9

B. A tilted cast allows a path of draw that

evens out the embrasure spaces for a
more esthetic result
may eliminate soft tissue
interferences

This soft tissue prominence

would interfere with the
placement of a RPD. The RPD
must be redesigned to
accommodate this situation or
the path of draw altered to
avoid the prominence if
possible
Procedure for surveying the
diagnostic cast:

1. determine path of placement

2. analyze undercut areas
3. mark survey lines and tripod
 A. determine path of placement
• Attach cast to surveying table and position occlusal plane parallel to
platform of surveyor

• place analyzing rod in surveyor and adjust table until rod contacts
occlusal 1/3 of the proximal surfaces of the proposed abutment teeth

• some tooth preparation is usually necessary to parallel these surfaces

to act as guiding planes
Base of cast is parallel to
platform of surveyor Analyzing rod is against the
proximal surface of an abutment
tooth
 B. analyzing undercut areas
• analyzing rod locates undercut areas

• undercut gauges measure undercut depth

• casts may be tilted to redistribute undercut

• locations of undercuts must be suitable for functions and esthetics of clasps

• indicate undercut with red pencil

• abutment teeth may need to be modified

• evaluate tissue undercuts

• lock adjustable table in most favorable position

undercut gauge measures amount
of undercut - cast may be tilted to
redistribute undercuts

the locations of undercuts must be

suitable for function and esthetics of
clasps - indicate undercut with red
pencil mark
Precise location and
amount of undercut to
accommodate clasp is
indicated in red pencil
 C. mark survey lines and tripod

• replace analyzing rod with carbon marker

• mark height of contour on abutment teeth and other

tissue prominences

• record cast position by marking with 3 widely separated

marks
 mark the height of contour on
teeth and tissue prominences

record cast position by marking with

3 widely separated marks on vertical
surfaces - tripoding cast