Australian Dental Journal, December, I968
A simplified technique for copper
L o r e n R. Borland
The use of individual copper band impres-
sions has declined greatly since the introduc-
tion of reversible hydrocolloids, alginates, and
rubber and silicone-based impression materials.
These new materials give excellent results
when they a r e properly handled, and are
especially suited t o large-scale restorative pro-
cedures involving a n entire quadrant or arch.
They make possible accurate impressions, not
only of large areas, but also of inlay and partial
veneer crown preparations i n which t h e re-
maining undercuts on the facial and lingual
surfaces of the prepared teeth make the with-
drawal of copper band impressions difficult if
not impossible.
However, there still remain instances in
which individual copper band impressions are
preferable. One such circumstance i s en-
countered in the construction of porcelain
jacket crowns. Here a n amalgam die, against
which a platinum matrix can be swaged, is to
be preferred.
Another situation calling for the use of
copper band impressions arises when sub-
gingival haemorrhage cannot be controlled. I t
is a well accepted dictum t h a t hydrocolloids
will not displace blood or saliva, nor can a
truly accurate impression of sub-gingival areas
be obtained with rubber or silicone materials
unless these areas a r e kept reasonably clean
and dry until the impression is seated. Using
t h e traditional techniques, i t is often very dif-
ficult to obtain a completely satisfactory copper
band impression, and this is particularly true
in the case of a shoulder preparation for a
Received for publication, January, 1 9 6 8 .
B
415
band impressions
porcelain jacket crown. I t is essential, of
course, that the band be properly festooned
and that it should fit a t t h e gingival margins,
and it is from these requirements t h a t the
usual difficulty arises.
It is simple enough to position the empty
band correctly, but a band filled with com-
pound makes it impossible to see the margins
of the preparation. Furthermore, t h e flow of
the compound, as the band is seated, often dis-
places the band sufficiently to cause it t o come
to rest on the shoulder a t some point or an-
other, rather than sliding on beyond. Chances
of success a r e still further reduced by the
rapid hardening of the compound, which
usually precludes the possibility of reposition-
ing the band if its initial seating does not
seem to be satisfactory.
The technique to be described completely
eliminates these problems. I t is fast and simple
and completely reliable. The author has used
it i n more than two hundred cases without
producing a single defective impression.
Technique
I n the course of preparation of the tooth
f o r the jacket crown, take particular care in
the formation of the shoulder. This should be
a full millimetre in width and its width
should be constant throughout. Make a special
effort to extend the shoulder to the same
depth beneath the free gingival margin all
around the preparation. T h e shoulder may be
bevelled or chamfered slightly if a gold thimble
is to be made, or if the preparation is for a n
acrylic jacket, but no chamfer should be made
for a porcelain jacket crown (Fig. 1).
416
Select a copper band which will just go to
place past the shoulder of the preparation. If
this is not available, select t h e next smaller
size and stretch it. Anneal the band by heating
i t to a bright red i n the bunsen flame and
I I
I
I If any further festooning is necessary, be
1 I
I
I I
F i g . ].-Jacket crown preparation. Note that
shoulder follows curve of gingival crest.
quenching it i n alcohol. This will not form
the film of copper oxide produced by quenching
in water.
Position the annealed band on the tooth,
sliding i t past the shoulder until it i s stopped
by the gingival attachment. While holding t h e
baud in this position, saribe a line around it
with an explorer showing t h e exact height of
the free gingival margin or crest (Fig. 2 ) .
I
I
I
I
I
I
I do not festoon it. Figure 3 shows this second
F i g . 2.-Use of exploring tine to scribe out-
line of gingival crest on annealed copper
band.
Carry this mark around both the facial and
lingual surfaces and well into the interproximal
embrasures.
Remove the band from the mouth and trim
it to the scribed line using a pair of curved
Australian Dental Journal, December, I968
crown shears. I n the vast majority of cases
it will be found t h a t this produces a properly
festooned band on the first attempt. Smooth
the cut edge of the band with a fine sandpaper
disc and return it t o the mouth. It should
seat properly, be a snug fit at the gingival,
and should extend beyond the gingival margin
at all points.
sure to smooth the cut edges with t h e sand-
paper disc. Any rough edges will lacerate the
soft tissues a s well as tending to catch on t h e
shoulder when the band is seated.
Drill several small holes through the band
just above its gingival border. These can be
made very quickly with a No. 4 round bur
mounted in a n a i r turbine handpiece. They
provide retention f o r the compound and pre-
vent its pulling away from the band when the
impression is removed from the tooth.
f --- -
;-- -r 0
0
F i g . 3.-Outer “reservoir” band slides in tele-
scope fashion over fitted inner band.
Now select a second copper band just large
enough to slide outside the untrimmed end of
the fitted band. Anneal this second band but
band in place. Filled with the softened im-
pression compound, it serves as a reservoir
or hydraulic cylinder, forcing t h e impression
material into t h e already positioned fitted band.
Completely fill the outer band with softened
compound and store it i n hot water. The water
temperature, of course, will depend upon the
particular compound being used. Dietrich’s
Compound* works especially well, and this
should be stored i n boiling water.
Clean the preparation carefully, removing
the blood and debris with hydrogen peroxide.
If Dietrich’s Compound is used, the preparation
should be dried. If a hard compound such a s
Mizzy’s or Kerr’s is used, the prepared tooth
should be left just slightly moist to prevent
the compound from sticking or adhering to the
preparation.
* Hygienic Rubber Company.
Australian Dental Journal, December, 1968
Ensure that the empty inner band is seated.
This can be done very easily, since there is
no compound to interfere with one’s vision.
Hold this band in position with the left hand,
grasping its labial and lingual surfaces be-
tween the thumb and forefinger. Now slide
the compound-filled outer band over the end
of t h e empty inner band, forcing i t down with
the forefinger of the right hand (Fig. 4 ) .
Fig. 4.-Outer band containing impression
material is forced t o place over already posi-
tioned empty inner band.
The softened compound will flow down inside
the inner band, past the shoulder a t the
gingival and out through the retention holes.
One can see t h e compound flowing up from
under the free gingival margin when the band
is fully seated and the impression is complete.
Thoroughly chill the impression and remove
it with a s little lateral movement as possible.
Clean it with hydrogen peroxide and dry it.
I t can now be boxed i n plaster and packed
with amalgam, or carefully packed in cotton
wool to be sent to a commercial laboratory.
It will look like Fig. 5.
When hydrocal dies, rather than amalgam
dies, are acceptable i t may be advantageous to
remove the band impression positioned i n a
full arch impression. This may be done if the
preparations a r e parallel. To do this, seat all
the copper bands i n the manner already de-
scribed, using either compound or one of the
rubber or silicone materials in them. After
417
the material has set, withdraw each band a
millimetre or two to free it and then reseat it.
Select a full arch tray large enough to be
seated with t h e copper bands in place. Fill the
tray with rubber or silicone material and seat
i t over the copper band impressions. When
the material has set, the tray may be removed
and will contain the copper band impressions
in their correct relationship t o the rest of the
arch.
This technique makes accurate copper band
impressions extremely easy to take i n virtually
all cases. I t assures complete registration of
detail a t the critical gingival area, and
saves a great deal of time ordinarily spent
in retaking impressions because of gingival
deficiencies.
Fig. 5.-Completed impression.
Summary
Copper band impressions a r e useful where
metal dies a r e desired and in cases where
gingival hemorrhage cannot be controlled. A
technique is described employing two copper
bands, one a slide fit outside t h e other. The
empty inner band, properly festooned and
fitted, is positioned on the prepared tooth.
Then the outer band, filled with softened com-
pound i s slid to place over it. As the bands
telescope together, the compound is forced into
the inner band and down past the gingival
margin.
Flat 4,
53 Grange Road,
Toorak, Vic. 3142