1. What is a sectional matrix system?
A sectional matrix system is used for Class II composite restorations. It supports you in the optimal design of the restoration, especially in the design of the contact. A sectional matrix system consists of sectional matrices, a ring for the adaptation of the band and separation of the teeth and a wedge which helps in the optimal design of the interproximal area.
2. What is the advantage of a sectional matrix system? I can work really well with my traditional system.
Especially in the design of contact points, traditional systems as for example Tofflemire often do not deliver satisfying results. The contact often is too weak, not existing at all or at the wrong place. The Composi-Tight 3D sectional matrix system, however, results in tight contacts at the tooth’s natural height of contour.
3. Can I use the Composi-Tight System for an M.O.D.?
Yes; both the Composi-Tight 3D Soft Face ring (orange) and the thin tine G-Ring (gray) are angled at 12.5° to allow stacking of rings for performing M.O.D.s and multiple-tooth restorations. Either ring may be stacked over the other, and in any combination. Our other systems have standard rings with short tines and rings with long tines.
4. Can the system be used for larger cavities?
Yes, because the tips of the new Soft Face 3D ring are wider than standard separator rings allowing placement on wider embrasures.
For embrasures where whole cusps are missing, fill and cure all but the interproximal area This can be done by building up the wide embrasure area freehand or by using a Tofflemire band (now also available from Garrison in a Slick Bands version). Then place a Composi-Tight contoured matrix and Soft Face 3D ring to complete the restoration for a contoured tight contact.
Alternatively, you can work with the G-Ring and the Wedge Wands. Place the tine of the G-Ring on the outside side of wedge, opposite the tooth being restored. The wedge forms the matrix band around the tooth and allows filling large cavities.
5. Do I get tight contacts?
Yes, because the Soft Face 3D ring separates the teeth interproximally with the strength of 38-40 Newton (measured at the molars). This results in tight contacts. The three-dimensionally contoured tips with Soft Face adaptable silicone hug the matrix band to the tooth. Flash is virtually eliminated buccally and lingually.
6. Can I use the system in the premolar and molar area?
Yes, all Garrison systems can be used for molar and premolar teeth. The orange Soft Face 3D rings can be used universally and are also possible for M.O.D.s. The thin tine G-Ring (gray) is utilized in certain conditions such as the distal of a canine. In this condition, the burnished ends of the thin tine G-Ring will adapt and retain more effectively. The thin tine G-ring may also be preferred for malpositioned or pedodontic applications.
7. Can I use the system also in the front tooth area?
No, a sectional matrix system is best used for Class II restorations.
8. Can I use the Garrison system with rubber-dam?
Yes, we recommend the use of a rubber-dam with all Garrison systems.
9. How does the Composi-Tight 3D system work?
The Composi-Tight 3D system works in three easy steps: 1. Place the band with the concave edge toward the occlusal margin (put the Slick Bands with their coated side towards the embrasure). 2. Fixate the matrix with a wedge (e.g. with our Wedge Wands (plastic wedges) or Soft Wedges (wooden wedges); 3. Place the orange 3D ring with the tines over the wedge, seating them as far gingivally as possible. Clinical Tip: Approach the matrix band with the ring body angled slightly towards the tooth in order not to push down the matrix band.
10. What are the advantages of the Soft Face 3D ring?
Flash is gone! Three-dimensionally contoured tips with Soft Face™ adaptable silicone hug the matrix band to the tooth. Flash is virtually eliminated greatly reducing finishing time. No other sectional system has Soft Face™ tines.
Maximum separation. A firm core in the center of each soft, adaptable tip directs the ring’s tension interproximally where it is most effective for the separation of teeth.
Fast and easy to place. The slotted bottom fits directly over the wedge simplifying placement and allowing for wedge adjustment.
Easy wide embrasures. The tips of the new Soft Face™ 3D ring are wider than standard separator rings allowing placement on wider embrasures.
Strength for the long haul. The reinforcing overmold enhances ring tension and longevity giving you maximum separation that lasts restoration after restoration.3D system rings are fully autoclavable.
11. How can the grey ring (smaller tips) be placed?
In contrast to the orange Soft Face 3D ring, there are several possibilities to place the gray thin tine G-Ring.
a. Place the tines between the band and the wedge. This is the best place to put the tines. It increases the separation force, grips the best on the tooth and doesn’t cave in on most preparations. However, this is also the hardest place to put it.
b. Place the tines on top of the wedge. This is the easiest place to put the ring. However, because the ring is not open very far it does not exert as much force and the preparation has to be very narrow to prevent the tines from collapsing the band.
c. Place the tines behind the wedge. This is the second easiest place to put the ring. Separation force is good, retention is good. It does not adapt the band to the tooth very well and you could get buccal and lingual flash. This is the placement to use when the preparation it really wide. Combine the use with our flexible Wedge Wands plastic wedges. A contact forming instrument should be used to hold the band against the adjacent tooth during curing.
d. Place one tine between the wedge and band and one tine behind the wedge. This position can be used for wide preps. However, this position is quite difficult to achieve.
12. What is the difference between the orange and gray ring of the Composi-Tight 3D system?
The orange Soft Face 3D ring has orange silicone tines with a notch for the wedge. This ring can be used for most Class II restorations. The ring has great separation force, eliminates flash buccally and lingually and the adaptation of the matrix band is improved.
The gray thin tine G-Ring has smaller tines and the burnished ends will adapt and retain more effectively in certain conditions (e.g. distal of a canine, malpositioned or pedodontic applications).
13. Can I open the Garrison rings with my rubber dam forceps?
Rubber dam forceps usually do not spread the tines open far enough. Garrison Dental Solutions offers a special Ring Placement Forceps that is ideally suited for this task. They will open the ring far enough for all applications. They are designed with a broad notch for gripping the ring tightly, so that the ring will not slip off inadvertently during placement. They also make placement of multiple rings easier since there are no tips on the end of the forceps as on standard rubber dam forceps. This forceps is also available in combination with a rubber dam forceps (Universal Forceps).
14. Can the 3D-rings be used for restorations of a back to back Class II cavity?
Yes, you can use the Soft-Face 3D ring also for back-to-back restorations. The force of separation of the ring is 38-40 Newton which separates the teeth sufficiently for the placement of two bands in a back-to-back.
15. Garrison sells different rings. Which one can be used when?
Garrison Dental Solutions has continually improved and developed its Sectional Matrix Systems.
The current generation Composi-Tight 3D Sectional Matrix system is best. The orange Soft Face 3D ring will be the ring used in most of the cases. You can place it quickly and easily and it adapts to a multitude of tooth forms because of its silicon feet. Thus, the restoration of a perfect contour is possible. The plastic reinforcing overmold at the back of the ring guarantees for a strong ring tension and great longevity. The gray thin tine G-Ring has smaller tines and the burnished ends will adapt and retain more effectively in certain conditions (e.g. distal of a canine, malpositioned or pedodontic applications). Both 3D rings have the same tine length because they are angled so that M.O.D.s is also possible with one ring tine length.
The first Garrison Sectional Matrix System Composi-Tight original (also known as 3M Sectional Matrix system) quickly became the favored solution for Class II composite restorations. This system today is used for broken teeth or in pedodontics because there a strong separation force is not needed. The strength of separation is not as strong as with the Soft Face 3D rings which is the reason why this system can also be used for primary teeth. By using sectional matrices, you can achieve a very good contact nevertheless. The standard ring has shorter tines. The ring with longer tines is used for stacking for M.O.D.s or long tooth necks.
The Gold System is the first enhancement of the popular Original / 3M sectional matrix system. The rings are stronger to have greater separation strength to create even better contacts. The ring is oval so that the ring is a bit further away from the tooth. Therefore, these rings are preferred for larger embrasures. The standard ring has shorter tines. The ring with longer tines is used for stacking for M.O.D.s or long tooth necks.
The tines of the Silver Plus System are the same as in the Original-System; as an improvement, a reinforcing overmold made of plastic has been developed which improves ring tension and causes longevity of the ring. The standard ring has shorter tines. The ring with longer tines is used for stacking for M.O.D.s or long tooth necks.
16. How can I remove the matrix band after the restoration has been completed?
You can easily place and remove the matrix bands with our band forceps BFA-1 which contains a tungsten carbide inlay. The flattened tip with tungsten carbide gives perfect hold without deforming or destroying the band. The angle of the tip of 75° makes precise matrix placement even easier.
Of course you can also work with your pinsetters or needle holders to place and remove the bands.
The non-stick coated Slick Bands offer the advantage that they reduce sticking to composite or bonding by 92% and thus can be removed much more easily.
17. Why should I use a metal matrix rather than a clear matrix?
If the prep is filled and cured incrementally there is no need for a clear matrix.
A metal band can be manipulated (burnished, shape adjusted) and formed without the matrix band bending or flexing like a clear mylar matrix band.
Light reflects back into the restoration when curing occlusally.
18. What is the difference between the silver, the gold and the colored matrix bands?
The Garrison sectional matrices are all made of dead soft stainless steel which means that they can be formed according to needs. All bands are three-dimensionally pre-contoured to enable the creation of a perfect contact point.
The matrix bands of the Composi-Tight Original series (B-bands) are available in 5 different sizes (3x cervical, 2x standard). They are silver and a bit shorter than the following series, but the heights are identical.
The matrix bands of the Composi-Tight Gold series (AU-bands) are also available in 5 sizes (3x cervical, 2x standard), but they are golden and a bit longer than the Composi-Tight Original bands.
The matrix bands of the Silver Plus (C-bands) and 3D (M-bands) series are silver, but identically in size with the gold bands. They are available in 6 sizes (3x cervical and 3x standard).
The Slick Bands with non-stick coating are also made of dead soft stainless steel and have an additional non-stick coating which reduces the sticking of composite and bonding agents by 92%. They are color coded to make identification of the sizes easier. The matte finish also visually supports the creation of the marginal ridge and reduces reflection. The bands are available in 5 sizes (2x cervical, 3x standard).
19. Do I need a wedge?
Yes, the wedge is necessary to tighten the matrix towards sub gingival and to adapt the band perfectly around the tooth.
20. Can I also use my wedges with the Garrison system?
Yes, you can also use the Garrison system with your wedges. However, we recommend using our plastic wedges (Wedge Wands) or our wooden wedges (Soft Wedges) which are longer than normal wedges and thus can be easily re-adjusted.
Our wooden wedges are made of linden wood which enables the production of very fine, pre-contoured wedges. Because of the improved anatomy they stay in place. Their low profile is underneath the contact area.
21. What is the difference between wooden wedges and plastic wedges?
You can use both wooden and plastic wedges with the Garrison sectional matrix systems. Plastic wedges have the advantage that they are more flexible than wooden wedges. They keep a constant separation force. The Garrison Wedge Wands also come with a handle for placing and removing the wedge so that you do not need a separate instrument for this.
The advantage of the wooden wedges is that they swell with moisture and therefore give a firm hold.
22. How can the Soft Face 3D rings (orange) be sterilized?
Steam autoclave only. Remove debris with warm water and a brush. Please avoid putting the rings into instrument or burr baths or alcoholic solutions.
23. How long can I use the Soft Face 3D rings (orange)?
The rings are continually tested by us in the laboratory and should last 200 sterilization cycles. Individual results will vary.
24. Can the matrix bands be sterilized?
All Composi-Tight matrix bands (Slick Bands with non-stick coating and the non-coated stainless steel matrices) are disposable bands and single use only. However, all Garrison matrix bands can be sterilized in the autoclave before use.
25. What is the advantage of the 3D system in comparison to other sectional matrix systems?
a) The silicone tines of the orange Soft Face 3D ring ideally adapt the matrix band towards the tooth and the natural tooth form is created. No other sectional matrix system is able to do that.
b) The Garrison Soft Face 3D Rings have great longevity.
c) Garrison offers 6 different sizes of matrix bands.
d) Garrison offers Slick Bands non-stick matrices which reduce the sticking of bands with composites and bonding by 92%. This is unique world-wide.
e) The ring separation forceps from Garrison with its broad notch holds the rings firmly and safely. You cannot easily lose the ring.
f) Garrison offers a 60-day-money-back guarantee in Germany together with the dental depots on all complete systems. You can test all components without risk and send them back if you are not 100% satisfied – no matter how many bands you have used already.
g) The Garrison rings do not jump off the tooth thanks to the little retentions on their tines.
h) The Garrison Soft Face 3D rings do not easily lose their tension and thus do not have to be reactivated.
26. Why do I need a traditional system when I am working with a sectional matrix system?
For some restorations the sectional matrix systems comes to its limits. If you have a distal embrasure at the second molar for example (and there is no third molar there) the sectional matrix system cannot be placed. Also if whole quarters are missing or if there is a really large cavity, the sectional matrix system sometimes would be too small and collapse into the cavity. If you want to achieve a good contact for large embrasures we recommend to first work with a traditional system and to build up the restoration except for the interproximal area. Then restore the interproximal area with the sectional matrix system.
27. What is special about the Slick BandsTofflemire-style system by Garrison?
Garrison now also offers a system in Tofflemire-style. Here the bands also have the non-stick Slick Bands coating. The bands are available in two different versions (dead soft and regular) as well as in 4 sizes each (standard, pedo, sub gingival, and Right Curve™).
The innovative Right Curve bands form a greater funnel shape which comes closer to the tooth anatomy. The right band for many restorations!
28. When should I use the dead soft and when the regular bands?
Use dead-soft green bands when contact is COMPLETELY broken with adjacent teeth for maximum burnishability. When contact is NOT broken with adjacent teeth, use gray bands, which can be slid through contacts with minimal deformation.
