A Case Study Guide to the

V3 Sectional Matrix System

 Glass-fiber reinforced autoclavable
plastic tines for exceptional retention
and superior adaptation

Built-in lip makes V3 Ring

exceptionally stable in Triodent
Forceps during placement

Will not collapse into wide cavities,

even when a cusp is missing

Only V3 Tab-Matrix has a pronounced

marginal ridge for correct anatomical
form and curvature as matrix wraps
around tooth

V-shaped tines allow you to wedge

from both sides

NiTi spring for outstanding strength

and memory plus smaller footprint

Increased spring tilt for easier

stacking of multiple rings

Triodent’s V3 Ring has revolutionized sectional matrix systems.

Its smart design gives it wider V3 is a fully integrated system where gingival margin, while the Pin-Tweezers
indications for use, makes it easier component compatibility is at its optimum give you exceptional control and
to work with and best of all gives you level. The Wave-Wedge adaptation to maneuverability when placing wedges
predictable and superior results. the matrix provides a superb seal on the and matrices.

V-Ring / V3 Ring System accolades

2009

Visit our website: www.triodent.com for more Top Sectional

information about our great range of products.

Matrix System
UNIVERSAL V3 RING
• Outstanding spring strength
• Optimal tooth separation force
• NiTi for spring ‘memory’
• Glass-fiber reinforced plastic tines
• V-shaped tines accommodate wedge
• Stackable for multiple restorations
WAVE-WEDGE
• Fine wave-shaped wings compress on
entry and flare again upon exit for easy
placement and ultimate seal
• Hollow underside allows another wedge
to be placed from the opposite side
V3 TAB-MATRIX
• Pronounced marginal ridge for great anatomy
• Greater curvature on horizontal plane means more
curvature remains as matrix wraps around tooth
• Gingival apron is properly shaped to commonly
encountered cavity form, avoiding gaps in the
gingival-axial corner
4.5mm 5.5mm
NARROW V3 RING
• Contains all the innovative features and
benefits unique to Universal V3 Ring
• Tines set closer together, for optimal
separation on smaller teeth
• Up to 4kgs of separating force even
on premolars
WEDGEGUARD
• Eliminates risk of interproximal damage to
adjacent tooth
• Speeds up cavity prep
• Guard detaches after prep, leaving wedge
in place
FORCEPS
• Locking function and angled grip
arms hold the V3 Ring securely for
placement, both mesially and distally
• Handy built-in grooves for resetting rings
6.5mm PIN-TWEEZERS
• Pin in tip positively grips hole in V3 Tab-Matrix
and Wave-Wedge for absolute control
• Naturally closed position means you
will never drop another matrix or wedge
• Handy ball burnisher built into tip
Cavity on second molar
by Simon McDonald, BDS

1 2 3

Pre-op of DO on upper first molar. Completed cavity prep. Glass ionomer occlusal restoration Tab of V3 Tab-Matrix was bent mesially to give the
was cut back and left as a base. advantage of a “contra-angle”. Tab was then folded
over on to the adjacent tooth.

4 5 6

Tab of V3 Tab-Matrix was trapped against adjacent tooth Universal V3 Ring in place over the Wave-Wedge. Finger Occlusal view of the sectional matrix in place.
with a finger to prevent it from moving while placing the placement stabilized the matrix and ring while forceps
pink (medium) Wave-Wedge. were disengaged.
7 8 9

Matrix wings were peeled away from the composite to Buccal view of proximal contour after matrix removal, prior Trimming was done using a diamond bur with no water.
de-bond it. Side-hole in matrix gripped with Pin-Tweezers to any finishing. Note the marginal ridge form and lack of White area was the only region that needed finishing.
to wriggle it out. flash.

10 11 12

Finished restoration. Pre-op radiograph. Post-op radiograph. No interproximal finishing was required.
missing cusp Wide Box
By Graham Milicich, BDS By Jason Smithson, BDS

1 1 2

Note how the V3 tines still grip on the undercut, even Universal V3 Ring positioned against a wide box.
with the cusp missing. Pre-op.

2 3
Gone are the fears of finishing a
nice-looking composite restoration
and then checking
the contact and it’s wide open!  
The V3 Ring has made resin
restorations worry free.
Kevin M Apolito, DDS

Completed restoration. Completed restoration.

quadrant dentistry
by Jason Smithson, BDS

1 2 3

Pre-op. Wave-Wedges in place to protect rubber dam during Old restorations removed.
cavity prep.

4 5 6

Completed cavity prep. Dr Smithson changes two of the V3 Rings in place. Note the relative distance between Completed case.
pink wedges for larger, purple wedges at this stage. the tines of the Narrow (yellow) ring and the Universal
(green) ring.
 partially missing linguAl cusp
by Simon McDonald, BDS

1 2 3

Pre-op with fractured MOL composite. A purple (large) Wave-Wedge was placed interproximally Completed preparation. Note that original restoration
to depress the rubber dam and gingival tissues. The extended lingually and this created a wide embrasure.
wedge was lubricated to allow it to slide in.

4 5 6

A 5.5mm V3 Tab-Matrix was placed without removing the Narrow V3 Ring was placed. Note how the ring did not Cured composite resin prior to matrix removal. The
Wave-Wedge, which acts as a guide for the matrix and collapse into the cavity on the lingual side. composite in this case was Gradia Direct P-NT from GC.
also avoids entrapment of gingival tissue between the
matrix and the tooth.
7 8 9

Occlusal view of the restoration immediately after matrix Buccal view of the restoration immediately after matrix Occlusal view of the completed restoration.
removal. Note the lack of flash. removal.

10 11 12

Completed case.

Lingual view of the completed restoration. Final image after the rubber dam was removed. Post-op radiograph.
Wedgeguard do case
By Alfonso Vargas, DDS

1 2 3

To protect the mesial aspect of 16 during cavity prep, a The preparation was completed and the integrity of the Cavity prep complete. At this point the metal shield of the
WedgeGuard from Triodent was used. adjacent tooth was preserved. WedgeGuard was detached from the wedge, leaving the
wedge behind.

4 5 6

A medium V3 Tab-Matrix band was inserted between the The last increment of composite placed. Finished restoration.
wedge and the tooth. Both wedge and matrix were then
secured with a Narrow V3 Ring.
ELIMINATING IATROGENIC DAMAGE DURING CLASS II PREPS

Whether doing Class IIs, tunnel preps or Class IIIs
– even veneers and crowns – there is often a risk of
bur contact with the adjacent tooth. It is desirable to
avoid such contact, especially when a virgin tooth is
at stake, more so if it is a young patient.
Dentists preparing interproximal cavities will nick the
adjacent tooth or restoration more often than not.¹ ²
Some studies have reported damage in more than
90% of cases. Those nicks could eventually become
iatrogenic caries, and it is always preferable to avoid
unnecessary damage that takes time to repair.
Another area of risk during cavity prep is the gingival
papillae; bleeding in the interproximal area is a
routine occurrence that can be minimized with the
right approach.
One effective method for minimizing bleeding
is the use of Triodent Wave-Wedges. Their
V-shaped concavity and flexibility make them
ideal for protecting the papillae and/or a rubber
dam during cavity prep. But now Triodent has
adapted the Wave-Wedge by adding a shield.
The resultant device, the WedgeGuard, not only
protects the papillae but also the adjacent tooth. The
WedgeGuard significantly reduces risk during cavity
prep, which allows the dentist to focus exclusively
on ideal cavity contours for the subject tooth rather
than its environs, which also saves time.
Uniquely with the WedgeGuard, after cavity prep
the guard is detached while the wedge stays
between the teeth, ready for the insertion of a
standard matrix band beside it. With the wedge
remaining in place, there is less likelihood of
bleeding caused by reactive hyperemia, common
with the withdrawal of many wedges.
References
1. Medeiros VAF, Seddon RP. Iatrogenic damage to approximal
surfaces in contact with Class II restorations. Journal of Dentistry, Feb
2000.
2. Qvist V, Johannessen L, Bruun M. Progression of approximal
caries in relation to iatrogenic preparation damage. Journal of Dental
Research, Vol. 71, No. 7, 1992.

Protective guard detaches -

By protecting the adjacent
leaving wedge in place to begin
tooth, WedgeGuard makes
restoration while reducing
tunnel preps more secure
and effective. excess gum trauma !
Alfonso Vargas, DDS
 WedgeGuard MOD Case
Graeme Milicich, BDS

1 2 3

A new patient presented with an old composite Medium-sized WedgeGuards were slid interproximally Once in position, one guard was cut with a high-speed
restoration with severe food impaction and chronic until seated. The Wave-Wedge portion of the diamond bur to improve access.
gingivitis. To avoid risk of damage to the virgin adjacent WedgeGuard protects the papilla.
teeth, WedgeGuards were used.

4 5 6

During prep, the position of the wedges helped provide When cavity prep was complete, the guards were The guards were replaced with V3 Tab-Matrices, which
an excellent view of the cavity margins. detached using Pin-Tweezers. are much thinner and slide between the wedge and the
cavity, preventing overhangs.
7 8
After the matrices were placed, V3 Rings were carefully
positioned and the MOD was continued as normal.
9 10
Completed case.
Matrices were removed.
Even using an operating
microscope, I know I accidentally
touch adjacent teeth with the drill. The
WedgeGuard from Triodent is brilliant.
The guard protects the tooth then you
pull out the metal protector and Hey
Presto! You have a Wave-Wedge to
then use with the sectional matrix.
Simply amazing.
Graeme Milicich, BDS
The restoration was completed.
I love to take stress out of the
equation and the WedgeGuard
definitely helps. Whenever there is a
perfect, virgin tooth beside a Class II
to be prepped I like a WedgeGuard
in place. This allows me to work fast,
efficiently and do the best by my
patients. The unique Wave-Wedge
design hugs the teeth nicely and
protects the gum as well.
Adam Doudney, BDS
Completed case before removal of wedges.
two inlays - premolar and second molar - using griptab
By Jan Hajtó, Dr. med. dent.

1 2

The indirect restoration handling aid that

gives you a reliable grip and total control
of the placement procedure.

Features and Benefits

Inlays with small Griptabs.
3 4
Inlays with Griptabs during try-in.
• Silane/moisture-proof, flexible adhesive
(supplied in syringe)
• 100% secure grip to all crowns, veneers,
onlays and inlays
• Accurate, sure placement
• Adhesive comes off restoration easily and
cleanly at end of procedure
• Passive and controlled release
• The ability to pick up and put down a
restoration multiple times (no stick in the way)

‘These are terrific. They make your life much easier.’

John Kanca III, DMD

‘Works like a charm.’

George Freedman, DDS

‘A fantastic idea. A real winner.’

Inlays during cementation. Completed case. Louis Malcmacher, DDS
using triotray with large lingual tori
by Graeme Milicich, BDS

1 2

The accurate, customizable metal posterior

impression tray.

Features and Benefits

Lower molar restoration with large lingual tori present.
Triotray try-in shows side tab impingement on tori.
• Prevents distortion
• Puts tongue in passive position
• Side tabs lock-in impression material
• Tabs bendable to fit all mouths
• Tabs plastic-tipped for patient comfort
• Removes stress
• Saves time and money

3 4 “Dr Simon McDonald has hit

another home run. The Triotray
is a ‘must have’ product.”
Louis Malcmacher, DDS

“We have had a 100% success

rate with crowns done using
Triotrays.”
Phillip Zoldan, BDS

Side tabs are bent to accomodate tori. Completed, accurate impression.

 V3 Testimonials
“Composite interproximal contacts are a snap with
Triodent’s V3 Ring. Stability and ease of placement,
anatomic angulation, and plastic tines that
accommodate wedges comfortably, V3 all-NiTi rings
deliver predictable contacts every time.”
George Freedman, DDS
“So, I bought a new ring system at the ADA meeting
on a whim. I used it for the first time and had a
sinking feeling in my stomach. I instantly realized
how much frustration I had had with all the other
ring systems that I’ve used over the years. The V3
system may be the perfect design for establishing
interproximal contacts with composite.”
Todd Ehrlich, DDS
“With Triodent’s V3 Matrix System, we now have a
simple solution for creating tight-fitting and natural-
looking contacts when restoring posterior teeth with
direct composite material.”
Ara Nazarian, DDS
“The V3 Ring is by far the best purchase I have
made for my practice, ever. I cannot speak more
highly of the product. It is a dental restorative
necessity.”
Isidoro Ferlito, B.Dent
V3 Standard Brochure
“I’ve tried them all and the V3 system is hands-
down the best! Warning: your contacts will be
so tight that you’ll need the special pin-tweezers
to remove the matrices. Imagine contours that
look natural, interproximal surfaces that require
little adjustment, and contacts you can hear and
feel. Trust me, you’ll never look back. Triodent’s
innovation has made dentistry more fun!”
Komson Sudhi, DDS
“Love it, love it, can’t live without it.”
Sam Hamam, DDS
“I have tried many of the products out there but
always ended up frustrated with loose or open
contacts until the V3. Now I consistently get good,
tight contacts on my Class IIs and IIIs. Thank you,
Triodent!”
Richard A Cea, DDS
“I recently added the Triodent V3 Ring to my
armamentarium.  The adaptability, security and
position of the Universal V3 and Narrow V3 with their
accompanying matrices are second to none when
placing composites. They have far outperformed any
other system I have used.”
Marshall C Fields, DMD
“I have been practicing for 26 years and have tried
all different types of rings for composites.  So far the
V3 has been by far the best.  Thanks.”
Henry Tom, DDS
“I have used every system on the market and
hands down, no competition, your system with the
plastic wedges, matrix and of course the V3 gives
me the predictable contacts that I need and the
patients deserve. Thanks for creating such a nice
system. Finally, posterior Class II restorations are
predictable, fun and rewarding.”
Gordon H West, DDS
“Been using the V3 Ring for about a year and must
say it is the best by far! The whole system, from the
pliers to the wedges and matrices, just make it all
the better. I even tried the competition’s new-fangled
ring and found it too big for most applications. Good
going, Triodent!”
Jeffrey Kagihara, DDS
“V3 is a great product in all situations. The V3 is a
fantastic system and I hope more people use it. It
is better for dentistry. I have never enjoyed direct
composites this much.”
Martin Martic, DDS