A comparative evaluation of two contemporary cordless methods of gingival retraction – An In vivo study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate two different cordless methods of gingival retraction. Materials and Methods: For this study, a total of 30 participants aged above 18 years were selected. Out of 30 patients, 15 patients required fixed prosthesis in the anterior arch and 15 patients required fixed prosthesis in the posterior arch with minimum of two abutments surrounded by healthy periodontium, respectively. Same abutments were used for both retraction systems. After tooth preparation, three impressions for each patient were made, one without retraction, second after application of less viscous syringeable retraction paste, and third after 7 days after application of more viscous retraction paste with applicator gun. This was followed by fabrication of definitive Type IV gypsum cast. Undamaged retrieved casts were sawed out, buccolingually with the help of die cutting saw followed by measurement of the width of the retracted gingival sulcus under a stereomicroscope. The width was measured as the distance from the abutment tooth to the crest of the free gingiva. Results: The mean horizontal retraction attained from the control and two gingival retraction systems was compared using one-way ANOVA with the level of significance (P) set at 0.05. Amount of mean horizontal gingival retraction attained by syringeable retraction system was higher than control but statistically not significant in the anterior segment, whereas in the posterior segment, it was statistically significant.