Before & After

CASE DETAILS

Figure 1. An 18-year-old female patient complained of the diastema between teeth 11 and 21 and a caries lesion distal to tooth 21. In the treatment planning, it was planned to restore the dental caries lesion in the distal of tooth 21 with resin composite. Then, it was planned to close the midline diastema with resin composite.

Figure 2. Superior Matrix for the distal part of tooth number 21 is shown. In order to restore the distal part of tooth number 21 with composite, primary (palatal, distal and vestibule walls), secondary (distal marginal edge, vestibule development groove, lingual cingilum) and tertiary anatomical structures should be restored in ideal forms. This case demonstrates the preparation of an ideally-form Class IV restoration with Superior Matrix.

Figure 3. After cavity preparation, the length of the Superior Matrix was adjusted according to the length of the tooth by trimming the matrix with fine-tipped scissors at the gingival level.

Figure 4. This step is critical in giving the matrix the final shape of the restoration. In the cervical area, it is recommended that the matrix extend towards cervically approximately 1 mm from the preparation margin. The matrix should not be trimmed too short. In this way, with the Superior Matrix, emergency profile that are not overfilling or underfilling and have a very good marginal adaptation can be obtained.

Figure 5. The picture shows the evaluation of the prepared Superior Matrix’s adaptation with the preparation. At the incial edge, the length of the matrix must be adjusted correctly. The matrix should not be longer than the incisal edge of the tooth.

Figure 6. After adhesive procedures, the resin composite (Tokuyama Estelite, A1) was condensed into the Superior Matrix. It is recommended that the temperature of the resin composite be at room temperature so that the viscosity is not high.

Figure 7. After adhesive procedures, the resin composite was placed with Superior Matrix. At this stage, the composite loaded matrix should be placed in the correct position with finger pressure. Excess composites protruding from the margins of the matrix should be cleaned with a mouth spatula before the composite is light cured. After the matrix is brought to the desired position and the exceed composites are cleaned, the resin composite is polymerized with a light source. It is recommended to carry out the polymerization multiple times to cover different areas.

Figure 8. After the resin composite is polymerized, the Superior Matrix is removed with a probe. The figure shows the image of the restoration after the matrix has been removed. At this stage, the composite placement is finished. Thanks to Superior Matrix, the challenging composite placement phase is made extremely easy.

Figure 9. The image of the restoration can be seen right after the finishing process. The midline diastema will then be closed to balance the mesidal distal widths of teeth 21 and 11. This case demonstrates how easy it is for the dentist to perform a class IV restoration with a Superior matrix.

Figure 10. Clinical view of the restoration one day later