The indirect index for soldering bridges.

Introduction Parts of a bridge are related either clinically by the dentist, the direct index, or by the technician in the laboratory, the indirect index, to assemble the parts and invest them for soldering. T o form a direct occlusal index the dentist seats the bridge parts on the teeth and usually either makes a plaster impression record' or uses a self-curing acrylic resin record from which the technician fabricates the soldering assembly. T o form a conventional indirect occlusal index for immediate soldering the technician assembles the bridge parts from the master model with either a quickcure acrylic resin' or sticky wax and impression plaster.* Errors attribute to both types of index for soldering which are undetectable until the final bridge is tried in the mouth. In view of the problems associated with occlusal indexing, a technique has been developed combining the advantages of both types of procedures and improving the end result.