Palodent® V3

Iatrogenic damage refers to any adverse condition in a patient resulting from treatment by a physician.² Studies have shown that in 70% or more of Class II restorations, the clinician nicks the adjacent tooth with the bur during prep – a prime example of iatrogenic damage.³ When the bur nicks the adjacent tooth, it roughens the tooth surface and creates an area for bacteria to collect more easily and form caries. In order to avoid nicking the adjacent tooth, clinicians tend to spend more time to slowly and carefully prep the tooth. To avoid the extra time and risk of iatrogenic damage, it is recommend to use an interproximal guard to protect the adjacent tooth.³ This allows you to prep faster without worry, and simultaneously do right by your patients.

This can be avoided with the use of the wedgeguard.

When using resin-based restorative products, isolation is critical for success. If the restorative field is contaminated with moisture, the physical properties and ultimate success of the restoration may be compromised. The ability to achieve and maintain isolation is affected by a number of factors including: oral hygiene of the patient, location of the restoration, irritation of the tissue around the restorative field, and the seal provided by the matrix system.⁴

While you cannot control the fact that the patient does not floss, or that isolation is more difficult in the posterior where 74% of direct restorations are performed; you can control to a degree how much you irritate the surrounding tissue during the procedure, and how well you seal the restorative field off from surrounding moisture.^4,5

That can be controlled with the use of contoured matrix and wedge.

Achieving proper contact and contour means that the tooth being treated tightly contacts the adjacent tooth at the middle third, and has a natural, convex contour. An open, or improperly placed/shaped interproximal contact can result in a fracture, as well as food impaction in the interproximal space which can result in periodontal inflammation, bone loss and recurrent caries.⁶

Can be avoided with the use of a matrix band and a retaining ring.