Which description outlines the procedure for adding a mastoid bend to a temple?

• A. Heat the temple behind the bend and make a depression in it with your thumb between the bend and temple end.
• B. Bend the temple without heating.
• C. Cool the temple and bend.
• D. Use a clamp to hold and bend.

Answer: (A)

The technique for a mastoid bend relies on making the temple wrap smoothly behind the ear by softening the material and shaping it carefully. Heating the temple behind the bend lets the plastic or metal yield so you can form a clean, rounded bend without cracking. As you bend, use your thumb between the bend and the temple end to press in a small depression. That depression gives you a controlled contour, helping the bend sit properly behind the ear and reducing pressure points or a sharp kink. Bending without heating can cause cracks or an uneven bend, and cooling the temple first makes it hard to shape. A clamp isn’t the standard tool for this precise contour, since it can overcompress or fail to produce the intended behind-the-ear shape.