Diastema Closure

Patent No. US DA 439,667 S

Diastema Closure

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Closure of Diastemas:

There are three advantages of using the Contour Wedge to close diastemas:

The Contour Wedge compresses the gingiva so the composite can be bonded to sub gingival enamel.
Since the composite can be initiated more to the cervical a diastema closure can be made more natural appearing because the composite flow begins subgingivally in a moderate rounded fashion.
The composite can be placed very rapidly against the Contour Wedge.
The buccal and lingual can be easily finished because it is accessible. The Contour Wedge will develop a smooth surface caressing the gingiva.

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	A	Diastema between #'s 9 & 10.
	B	Teflon tape around distal #9. Contour Wedge help in place with thumb at an angle between #'s 9 & 10. Gingiva is compressed and subgingival enamel is exposed.
	C	Composite can be rapidly placed and cured.
	D	Finished restoration appears very natural since the composite was started subgingivally. (Existing methods allow only supragingival diastema closure, which will make for unnatural appearing teeth.) Now ready to move on and close space between #'s 10 & 11.

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	A	A buildup of a peg lateral is in reality a mesial and distal diastema closure.
	B	#7 is isolated with teflon tape and Contour Wedges. Look carefully and one can see the Contour Wedges have been modified to control the proper emergence contour of the composite. Also note that the gingiva has been compressed so that there is access to subgingival enamel. The more cervical the dentist can begin the diastema closure, the more natural the restoration will appear.
	C	Composite has been bonded to the tooth, and ready for cut back. The composite was built directly against the Contour Wedges and the neighboring teeth. The interproximal composite is very smooth because it was formed against the smooth surfaces of the Contour wedges.
	D	Finished composite buildup of tooth # 7. Note very natural appearing rounded emergence contours.