BRACON Clinical Products
Dentapreg DELIVERS
- Reliable Dentapregsplinting DELIVERS made easy - Reliable splinting made FREE easy E-BOOK FREE E-BOOK
Bracon Limited • Unit C • Swife Business Park • Burwash Road • Broad Oak • Heathfield • East Sussex TN21 8UP t: +44 (0)1580 817000 f: +44 (0)1580 819455 e: sales@bracon.co.uk
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Fig. 1: Lingual splint
Fig. 2: Fiber reinforced composite
Tooth mobility – as dentists know – is nothing that will get fixed by itself; and neither are its two principal causes: periodontitis and trauma from occlusion. For patients, a wobbly tooth impairs function, aesthetics and comfort. So, the splinting of mobile teeth to stronger adjacent teeth is widely accepted and deployed – and it has been a technique used since ancient times. Splinting can, though, be controversial because of its adverse effects on oral health, including poor oral hygiene and impacts on supporting teeth. For 15 years now, Dentapreg has sought to revolutionise splint technology in order to overcome these common complaints while at the same time taking reliability, excellent aesthetics, and ease of use to new, improved levels.
Fig. 3: Biomechanics of a mobile tooth
Adapting the same principle found in nature – for example, in wood, bones and even dental tissues – Dentapreg set out to create a new class of composites known as ‘constructive composites’ which allow dental practitioners to build durable and highly flexible dental structures such as splints, bridges and large restorations. This has involved bringing aerospace technology into dental practices – aerospace grade glass fibers, as used in space shuttles, get impregnated with resin to create a material with unique properties.
Fig. 4: Biomechanics of an oral splint
We’ll show you how the resulting Dentapreg strips are tailor-made for helping and enhancing the splinting process for periodontically compromised teeth, trauma splints, and for aesthetic post-orthodontic retention. This short guide to smart tooth stabilization sets you up for increased patient satisfaction and – we hope – a whole new way of approaching splinting with ease and confidence.
Contents 1. What’s under the Dentapreg hood? Find out some product specifics, and how constructive composites can work best for you
2. The 12 step guide to successful Dentapreg splinting – all done in 10 minutes How to get the job done with a minimum of fuss
3. Meeting different splinting challenges with Dentapreg High-tech flexibility means top performance – for perio and trauma splinting, and post-orthodontic retention
4. What if? Useful tips and hints with Dentapreg splints
5. Featured clinical case: Oral Splint
What’s under the Dentapreg hood?
Fig.5: Box of Dentapreg SFM with three blisters of Dentapreg SFM strips and detail of opened blister
When you open the Dentapreg product box you’ll find thin, pliable, and slightly sticky strips of different cross-section in which strong, specially treated glass fibers are embedded in a dental resin used in many filling composites. The pliability of the strips means they can easily be formed into the desired shape, and they’re all ready to go for light curing – standard or LED curing lights are all you need to cure the resin on Dentapreg strips.
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Fig. 6: Dentapreg strip between foil and paper covers
Fig. 7: a)Dentapreg SFU strip, b) Dentapreg SFM strip
1. Dentrapreg Splint SFU (Flat Unidirectional):
2. Dentapreg Splint SFM (Flat Multidirectional):
- This is a flat strip with 4,200 unidirectional S2 glass fibers, and dimensions of 2 mm x 0.2 mm x 60 mm.
- This is a flat strip with 7,300 E glass fibers, and dimensions of 2 mm x 0.2 mm x 60 mm.
- The enhanced strength provided by the unidirectional fibers makes this splint product suitable for extra-coronal splinting.
- The enhanced pliability provided by the multidirectional fibers allows particularly for extra-coronal splinting where difficult arch shapes require small curvatures in the splint.
- When formed into an appropriate cross-section, it is also suitable for an intra-coronal long term splint.
- The strip flexibility makes this strip highly popular with new users of Dentapreg products.
Why is the Dentapreg strip 6 cm long? Over the years we have responded to recommendations from our customers and gone for a 6 cm long strip length as standard issue – among other things, this size is optimal for minimizing waste. If a clinical procedure does require a longer strip, then it’s possible to extend the length by placing and overlapping another strip next to the original.
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The 12 step guide to successful Dentapreg splinting – all done in 10 minutes Yes, after possibly a few trial runs (and we recommend doing so extraorally on a model if you’re a complete beginner), we’re confident that you’ll be able to carry out splint preparation and execution in around ten minutes – we’ve seen it happen many times, thanks to the simplicity and user-friendliness built into the Dentapreg product experience.
Just follow these 12 simple steps: 1. Measure out the length of the required splint – you can use floss, a piece of dental wax, wedjets rubber cord or other available tools
7. Peel out the foil and paper
2. Clean the teeth
8. Adapt the strip to the teeth, sinking it into the layer of flow composite. Keep in mind that it is not necessary to push the strip into inter-proximal spaces – it is easier just to follow the arch. The biomechanical functioning of the splint is better maintained when adapted in this easy way
3. Etch the teeth in the intended splint area
9. Light cure the strip tooth by tooth, taking 40 seconds for each tooth
10. Apply the masking layer of flow 4. Bond it
5. Make a little layer of flow where you will sink the Dentapreg strip
6. Open the Dentapreg blister pack with a sharp tool, and then proceed to cutting the strip with scissors – it’s fine to use regular scissors, though crown scissors are recommended.
11. Cure it
12. Remove the excess flow and polish the surface of the splint
Key things to keep in mind: The Dentapreg strip can be handled with bare hands when it is contained between the two protective foils; but once these foils are removed, powder-free latex or nitrile gloves should be worn. For bonding, any two step resin-based bonding agent can be used. Dentapreg composition is compatible with most of the light-curing resin-based composites on the market today. Careful storage is required if you want to get the most out of your Dentapreg strip. If you use only a portion of the strip, then re-insert the remaining strip between the protective foils, return it to the blister pack closing the silver foil, insert it in the light-protection box included in the packaging, and store in a dark place – preferably a refrigerator – where the product’s properties will be maintained for high quality performance for up to a month.
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Meeting different splinting challenges with Dentapreg Splinting can be tricky, but the key is to achieve enduring tooth stabilization in all three dimensions. While conventional splints using wire can deliver, the placement of a cross arch splint is often time-consuming and can also involve damage to soft tissues. Dentapreg splints on the other hand:
1. Require a simple placing procedure 2. Are fixed to teeth across a relatively large area 3. Involve strong adhesion between the fiber strip and composite, providing tremendous rigidity for the splint to tooth connection 4. Ultimately, ensure no tooth rotation or shifting Whether you’re treating gingivitis and periodontitis with perio splinting, dealing with fractures or lost teeth via trauma splinting, or turning to the more dependable fixed retainer option for post-orthodontic treatment, here’s what you can be sure Dentapreg’s virtually invisible glass fiber strips will deliver – for you and your patients:
1. A simple, quick procedure with no need for special tools or special adhesive techniques 2. Optimal aesthetics combined with strength and security 3. Outstanding biomechanics thanks to glass fiber reinforcement which brings results across all types of splinting 4. No wire, no metal – means no allergic reactions 5. First class adhesion between strip and teeth guarantees reliable stabilization and retention
What if? Useful tips and hints with Dentapreg splints I need to remove the splint - Once the splint is no longer needed, you can remove it simply using a burr. Remove the composite layer on top of the strip first. Once you come to the fiber strip you can use a scaler to detach the strip from the teeth. You can use orthodontic pliers as well. There are no points of contact - Build the missing contact points of the splinted teeth from a C&B composite. Remember that the splint should be retained to teeth in all its length. I need a better stabilization for periodontically compromised teeth - You can make an intracoronal splint. The procedure is the same as for the surface retained splint except for the preparation of a groove on the teeth to be splinted. The width of the groove must be sufficient for placing the Dentapreg strip. Keep in mind that the width of the Dentapreg SFM strip is 2 mm. In addition, you can also splint the teeth both on lingual and labial side for enhanced stabilization. And finally, remember to use the most stable teeth as abutments.
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Featured clinical case: Oral Splint Courtesy of Dr. Roubalikova, Czech Republic
Initial situation
Measuring the splint
Teeth isolated with wedges
Rubber dam
Etched teeth surface
Application of bond
Adapted Dentapreg strip
Strip covered with flow composite
Final splint - lingual view
Final splint - labial view
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