class II restoration One of the most common procedures in clinical dentistry is a Class II direct restoration. Most of us are using resin or composite as our material of choice, especially for small to medium restorations.

If you're like me, one of the challenges is placing a matrix band after preparing the tooth and getting it ready to place the resin.

Often, there are slight imperfections in your margins and/or enamel ledges interproximally that you can't easily get to and they will "catch" your matrix band and cause them to bend or deform during placement. I have found you can go back with a very fine diamond bur to smooth things; however, I think a serrated diamond strip works best.

After preparing the tooth for the restoration and prior to placing my matrix band I'll take a serrated diamond strip and run it in between the teeth that I am working on and direct the diamond coating toward the prepared tooth.

This will quickly remove any enamel edges, plaque or debris and will give me enough room to place my matrix band properly and a nice clean surface to finish my restoration. The next time you're struggling getting a matrix band in place, give it a try. Jeff Lineberry DDS, Visiting Faculty, Spear Education. [ www.jefflineberrydds.com ]


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Commenter's Profile Image Chad L.
June 28th, 2012
This would work or you could also take a very fine flame-shaped diamond and open up the embrasures slightly. This usually is my preferred method of choice and works especially well when you have a tooth which is rotated or an adjacent tooth which is roated, causing a very tight interproximal embrasure..