Class IV Composites

Patent No. US DA 439,667 S

Class IV Composites

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Class III and Class IV Composites:

Until now there was not a good system for restoring Class III and Class IV composite restorations. Overlapped anterior teeth were particularly a problem. An awkward Mylar strip (that tends to make straight lines) encumbered dentists. With the Contour Wedge the dentist can design a proper emergence contour, and place the contact precisely. Visibility of the operative field is enhanced.

The Contour wedge works because:

It eliminates the need for any wedging whether light or excessive.
There is no matrix thickness to overcome.
There is no matrix memory to fight.
There is increased visibility and access to the cavity prep.

The Contour Wedge works because there is nothing to get in the way. All composite restorations are built directly against the neighboring tooth and the wedge itself. Everything is much simpler.

Large Class IV Composite on a Lower Anterior Tooth

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	A	Obvious lesion at the distal of tooth # 26. Note that an open contact at the distal will need to be corrected.
	B	All caries have been removed. The contact position can be controlled by the dentist. There is no need to try to wedge and manipulate a mylar strip.
	C	Restoration is built directly against the Contour Wedge and the adjacent tooth. Easy access to the buccal and lingual is readily apparent.
	D	Final restoration has a normal contour and a tight contact.

Overlapped Anterior Teeth

The difficulty of restoring overlapped teeth with a wood wedge and a mylar strip is dependent on the amount of overlapped involved. More overlap equals more distortion of the restoration from the spring back memory of the mylar strip. (Mylar strips do not melt and conform against adjacent teeth.) Besides distorting the composite restoration a loose contact also results.

Restoring Overlapped Lateral Incisor

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	A	Mesial composite on tooth #10 is breaking down.
	B	Tooth #10 is isolated with teflon tape and the Contour Wedge. Access is uninhibited. There is no mylar strip to fight.
	C	Tooth # 10 is overbuilt and ready for cut back.
	D	Final restoration. There is a tight contact because the Teflon tape is zero thickness. Distal of tooth was also bonded labially so tooth # 10 would appear less rotated.