Fixed partial dentures

Copper-band gingival retraction to produce void-free

crown and bridge impressions

Hubert Darby, D.D.S., and Lloyd H. Darby, III, D.D.S.

l,‘idnlin, Ga.

M ultiple
satisfactory.
tooth impressions
No material
for fixed restorative
or technique seemed to produce
dentistry have long been un-
the necessary marginal
definition. particularly with shoulder-type preparations with deeply subgingival
Inargins. ‘lube impressions with modeling compound or similar materials, while
producing the marginal detail, have the disadvantage of producing unrelated dies.
The technique described here supplements others previously reported in the
literature in which impressions are made with Thiokol or silicone-rubber impression
materials for single or multiple restorations. This technique can be used with either
sectional or fltll-arch impressions and will produce \,oid-free dies.

ARMAMENTARIUM
1. A silicone or Thiokol rubber-base impression materal.
2. Thirty-six gauge seamless copper bands.
3. beeswax and paraffin mixture (1 :4 ratio) heated in warm water (approxi-
mately 120” F.)
-1. A full-arch or sectional metal tray.

PROCEDURE
Prepare the teeth in the usual manner. Inlays and three-quarter crowns should
he prepared to allow sufficient interproximal space for the copper bands.
Select copper bands to fit each prepared tooth. They may be annealed for easier
contouring and festooning, although we prefer stiffer unannealed bands. The fitted
contoured and festooned bands are cut to a length 2 mm. longrr than the crowns
of the prepared teeth.
Smooth the cut surfaces and both the inside and outside surfaces of the bands
\vith a mounted stone,* and then roughen them using the same stone. The facial

Read before the Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics in New Orleans, La.

*S. S. White No, 28, S. S. White Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

513
 J. Prosthet. Dent.
514 Darby and Darby May. 1973

Fig. 1. Copper bands are trimmed, contoured, roughened, and placed on the prepared teeth.
Fig. 2. The preliminary wax impression. Note that the copper bands have been removed.
Fig. 3. The preliminary wax impression has been trimmed.
Fig. 4. The impression is made in the copper bands under finger pressure.

(buccal or labial) surfaces should be marked for identification Ivhen placing the
band on the prepared tooth (Fig. 1).
Heat the selected metal tray over a flame, and line it with a soft mixture of
beeswax and paraffin. The dental assistant can do this while the dentist places the
prepared copper bands over each preparation. Insert the wax-lined impression tray
in the mouth with care to assure good border detail in the wax impression (Fig. 2).
Remove the tray, and lift the bands from the wax impression. Trim all but a
thin layer of the wax from the impression, leaving intact a good border seal (Fig. 3).
Paint both the inside and the outside surfaces of the bands with adhesive to pro-
vide for retention of the impression material, and paint the inside of the wax im-
pression after it is trimmed.
Fill the bands individually with rubber-base or silicone impression material.*

*SIR, Precision Metals Research, Stern Dental Co., Inc., Mt. Vernon, N. Y.
 Retraction for void-free impresnons 515

Fig. 5. The final impression contains the copper-band impressions.

Fig. 6. The dies in the master cast. The lateral incisor die has been trimmed, but the bicuspid
die has not.
Fig. 7. The finished rest<)ration on the dies.
Fiq. 8. The finished restorations cemented in the mouth.

Place the lx~nds over the 1,reparations applying pressurcx with the ball of the fingel
lmtil the impression material sets (Fig. 4). Iiclnove tJ]e excess material lvith a pail
01‘ cotton plirrs lvhile the band is in JLI~~. The impression Mill be firmly seated.
Proceed in this manner until all band imJ]ressions are securely in place on their
respective teeth.
Fill- the wax-lined tray with the rubber impression material. place it in the
mouth, and hold it until the impression material is rompletely set.
\Vh(w thr impression is removed, the copper bands containing their imJxessions
xvill come ollt \vith it (Fig. 5 i Make a thorough check for inaccuracies in the im-
Jxession. All margins of the preparations should he distinct and easy to read IvitJl
no \,oids or air bubhlrs (Fig. 6, 7. and 8‘1.

SUMMARY
A technique for retracting the gingiva by using Thiokol rubber-base or silicone
inlpression material in copper bands has been described. The advantages of the
516 Darby and Darby J. l’msthet. Dent.
May, 1973

technique include the following: (1) The gingival tissue retraction is maximal and
superior to indirect retraction methods; (2) the margins may be established at the
maximum subgingival depth; (3) the band impression made under pressure will
have no air bubbles or voids; (1) the wax-lined tray has close border adaptation
and ensures a bubble- and void-free impression of the adjacent oral structures; (5)
the technique can be used for either sectional or complete-arch impression, inlays,
three-quarter crowns, or full-coverage crowns; (6) only the tray type of impression
material is required; and (7) it is not necessary to pour the cast as soon as the im-
pression is made.

Reference
1. Stern, N.: A Band Rubber-base Impression Technique for Fixed Restorations, J.’ PROSTHET.
DENT. 26: 491-496, 1971.

308 JACKSON ST.

VT~ALIA, GA. 30474