Special Section: Dentistry Techniques- Gingival Retraction Techniques - A pre requisite in fixed Prosthodontics: A REVIEW TECHNIQUES GINGIVAL RETRACTION TECHNIQUES - A PRE REQUISITE IN FIXED PROSTHODONTICS: A REVIEW

Gingival retraction or dilation is an important procedure in the fabrication of fixed prostheses. Quite often, the margins of these restorations are placed very close to the gingival margin, or even subgingivally, for aesthetic and functional reasons. Therefore, the operating surgeon must correctly record the prepared cervical finish line to enable adequate marginal integrity for the restoration. This is accomplished by retracting the gingiva laterally and making the area clean and dry. Gingival retraction is usually performed using a retraction cord impregnated in a suitable medicament. Both nonsurgical and surgical techniques have been established for gingival retraction. This article highlights the various techniques used in gingival retraction. No single technique has been scientifically proved superior to others. The choice of gingival retraction depends on the clinical situation and the operating surgeon’s preference. Introduction A healthy coexistence of restoration and the surrounding periodontium should be the ultimate aim of any fixed prosthodontic treatment. The key to achieve such a relationship or harmony is an accurate impression procedure. Displacement of the gingival tissue is essential for obtaining an accurate impression for the fabrication of fixed restoration, particularly when the finish line is at or just inside the gingival sulcus. Gingival displacement is defined as the deflection of marginal gingiva away from the tooth. This is performed to create sufficient lateral and vertical space between the margins of the tooth preparation and the gingival tissue in order to allow the injection of adequate bulk of impression material into the expanded crevice. Impression along the margin is critical for the marginal fit and emergence profile of the prosthesis. A sufficient bulk for the impression material should be ensured so that it can be removed from the mouth intact, without any tear. The critical sulcus width required for this is Health Sciences 2012;1(3):JS003g 2 An Open Access Peer Reviewed E-Journal Special Section: Dentistry TechniquesGingival Retraction Techniques A pre requisite in fixed Prosthodontics: A REVIEW approximately 0.2 mm at the level of the finish line. The techniques of gingival tissue displacement can be broadly classified as nonsurgical and surgical. Surgical retraction techniques require more skills, and hence, they are used only by a minority of clinicians. Nonsurgical techniques are very commonly used. This article describes the different nonsurgical gingival displacements. Requirements of gingival retractions • It should provide maximum exposure of the operating site. • It should expose the finish line margins of the preparation completely such that it allows the recording of the impression and provides marginal integrity for the restoration. • It should provide space for sufficient bulk of the impression material so that the impression does not tear on its removal. • It should permit completion of the preparation and cementation of the restoration. Techniques of nonsurgical gingival retraction The common techniques used are as follows: 1. Modified impression techniques • Copper band impression • Temporary acrylic coping impression • Matrix impression system • Modified custom tray technique