Tooth Separators in Endodontics | Dentistry. What are Tooth Separators? Tooth separators are used to separate the tooth in certain dental pr...
Tooth Separators in Endodontics | Dentistry.
What are Tooth Separators?
Tooth separators are used to separate the tooth in certain dental procedures such as cavity preparations for preventing damages to the adjacent tooth structures.
Purpose of Tooth Separators
Tooth separators are necessary for accomplishing good restoration of adequate contact. It helps in the examination of caries in the interproximal spaces of the tooth, thereby removing foreign bodies such as fragments of tooth pricks and food particles easily. For the preparation of cavities in the proximal areas. For proper finishing and polishing of restorations and acceptable restoration of proximal contours. It is indicated in Class-II cavity preparations.
Types of Tooth Separators
- Slow or Delayed Separation
- Rapid or Immediate Separation
Slow or Delayed Tooth Separation
As the name tells us, tooth separation is needed to take slowly. So it takes more time to separate the teeth. It is done by placing a separating material in between the teeth. Following are the various separating materials used for the slow or delayed separation. They are,
- Separating rubber bands
- Ligature wire
- Rubber dam sheet
- Gutta-percha stick
- Over/Large-sized temporary restorations
Separating Rubber Bands
It is lengthened and is positioned inter-proximally between the two teeth. And it brings about tooth separation slowly.
Ligature wires
Ligature wire is passed in between the contact areas of the tooth to form a loop. For tooth separation to happen, we have to tighten the two ends of the wire loops. It takes 2-4 days for tooth separation.
Rubber Dam Sheet
Same Like separating rubber bands, it is also introduced inter-proximal surface of the teeth. Heavy rubber dam sheets are used.
Gutta-percha stick
It is heated and inserted into the interproximal surface of the tooth. It took 7-14 days for tooth separation.
Oversized temporary restoration
Mesio-distally oversized crown is added with resin is placed on the prepared tooth surface. It causes tooth separation.
Rapid or Immediate Tooth Separation
In this method, tooth separation is achieved in a shorter period compared to the slow tooth separation method.
The rapid tooth separation method works on two principles. They are "Traction Principle" and "Wedge Principle".
Traction Principle
It uses mechanical devices which engage the proximal surface of the teeth with the help of a holding arm. If the holding arm is moved apart, it causes tooth separation. The instruments working based on these principles are Ferrier double bow separator and non-interfering true separator.
Wedge Principle
The wedge-shaped mechanical device is placed between the contact area of the teeth which causes separation of teeth. This principle is achieved by the use of wedges and Elliot separator.
Elliot Separator
It consists of a Single bow with two jaws. Tooth separation is done by adjusting the jaws. It works based on the wedge principle.
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