Managing Gingival Tissue During Crown Cases: Techniques in Soft-Tissue Displacement

Successfully producing crowns and bridgework is dependent on effective management of gingival tissue through tissue retraction. Extensive practice and experimentation with various materials can help clinicians determine their preferences and become skilled in this ubiquitous aspect of dentistry. Achieving expertise in technique-sensitive tissue retraction methods will lead to restorations that ultimately seat easier and require fewer adjustments. The efficiency of the crown-and-bridge fabrication process improves when clinicians are able to provide the dental laboratory with a good, clean impression.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Discuss the need for improved impressions from clinician and laboratory perspectives.

• Describe the various methods that can be used for tissue retraction during the production of crowns and bridgework.

• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of tissue retraction techniques in a clinical setting.

About the Author

Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS
Private Practice, St. Louis, Missouri