Block-out prior to pick-up impression of overdenture with ERA attachments

1. Punch small holes in a piece of rubber dam (Dental Dam; Hygenic, Coltene/Whaledent Inc, Mahwah, N.J.) 2. Cut out small rings of the rubber dam with 2to 3-mm borders around each hole (Fig. 1, A). 3. Apply the rubber dam rings over the ERA abutments before the pick-up procedure. The rings will cover and hold the block-out material in place during the pick-up procedure (Fig. 1, B). This simple technique will produce a clean acrylic resin surface uncontaminated by the block-out material. If the undercuts around the ERA abutment are minimal, the rubber dam ring itself will provide adequate block-out. Multiple rubber dam rings can be used to reduce the amount of block-out material required.