Technique tips: The check record

The check record is a simple technique used at the delivery stage of complete dentures that verifies the occlusion.¹ It is an effective technique that requires the use of a pre-occlusal record on the arc of closure to allow the clinician and technician to identify occlusal errors and correct them.² This article highlights the steps required as part of this method and summarizes the relative advantages and disadvantages of this clinical technique.

At the delivery stage, dentures are placed in the patient's mouth and are checked for their fit. The normal process of reviewing the retention and stability of the prostheses is done. The occlusion is checked and if there is a major discrepancy, such as an open bite or major disruption of the occlusion, then this will only be corrected by either removing teeth or returning to a registration in wax on the acrylic baseplate. If the discrepancy is minor then much time can be saved at the chairside by returning the dentures to the laboratory with a registration in wax. The first procedure of a check record is to select pink modelling wax of one thickness, and seal it to the occlusal surfaces of the lower posterior denture teeth (Figure 1).