Making Ideal Contacts for Class II Restorations With Palodent® Plus Sectional Matrix System
Like most restorative dentists, Sam Simos, DDS, a Bolingbrook, Illinois, private practitioner, places a large number of Class II restorations, which, he observes, can pose special challenges. “Class II restorations are the most common types we place in the mouth, but they are challenging to get right. There is more to them than meets the eye,” he notes.
“From adhesive to composite and everything in between, you have to get every step right or the longevity of the restoration is compromised,” Simos explains. “It is difficult gaining access to many areas of the mouth when doing an MOD or DO composite.”
Simos says his own ability to overcome Class II challenges such as these was dramatically improved by adding the latest version of the Palodent® Plus sectional matrix system from DENTSPLY to his armamentarium. “Palodent Plus makes it less stressful to know that getting into the ‘tight’ places can be achieved with greater ease.”
This system of sectional matrices and rings, he says, offers natural contours for better control of contact areas and embrasures, ease of placement, and better visualization of the operative field. “It enables us to get the contact we need in the posterior to make Class IIs look as they should—good, natural,” he maintains.
Simos says he found the system easy to use from the start in that it is both intuitive and user friendly. “There are directions and videos, but it was easy to learn and to adapt to the individual practitioner’s work style. You can either place the wedge before or after placing the sectional matrix and ring,” he explains.
Simos further notes that patients notice when their dentist is knowledgeable on current materials and technologies. “My patients appreciate faster, easier, and better dentistry. They can tell when things are going smoothly and when they are not. I really don’t want my patients to see me sweat when I am doing a ‘hard-to-get-at’ filling,” he says.
When the clinician uses the best products to get the optimum results, both the patients and the practice benefit, Simos asserts. “Using products like the Palodent Plus matrix system to deliver consistent results, I can rest assured my patients are getting the best care possible. It also differentiates the practice as a leader in progressive care.”
Simos also likes that the kit provides “everything the practitioner needs to create a great Class II restoration.” The Palodent Plus sectional matrix system is comprised of six precisely designed components: rings, matrices, wedges, wedgeguards, forceps, and pin tweezers. These have been designed and refined for optimal performance individually and as a system. As a result, Palodent Plus is among the simplest and most accurate matrix systems on the market, he suggests.
What particularly sets the Palodent Plus system apart, Simos says, is the design of the ring. “If I had to mention just one thing that makes the biggest difference in terms of ease of use and the quality of the results, it is the ring, which is made of nickel-titanium,” he maintains. It is, in fact, the nickel-titanium composition that gives the ring its spring strength and memory retention, but the ring’s durability is also an asset, according to Simos. “The ring is so durable, it can be autoclaved up to 1,000 times, and because it’s easy to get the wedge through, the contacts are nice and tight,” he says.
Also contributing to the quality of the contact, he adds, is the ease with which the matrix can be placed between teeth. “The matrix is coated and curved anatomically.”
Simos says he uses the Palodent Plus system multiple times every day in Class II situations, regardless of the difficulty of access. “It’s really indispensible,” he insists. “I depend on it to create the best contact and natural contours—quickly, easily, and reliably.”
DENTSPLY
38 West Clarke Ave
Milford, DE 19968
800-532-2855
class2restorations.com
