PRODUCT:
Ultrapak^® Cord

SOURCE:
Ultradent Products, Inc.
South Jordan, Utah
800-552-5512
ultradent.com

I would hate to practice without Ultrapak^® knitted retraction cords from Ultradent Products, Inc. I have been using this knitted retraction cord for years and would not consider going back to a solid cord. Twisted and braided cords can’t offer ease of packability and tissue displacement comparable to Ultrapak. It’s made of 100% cotton that’s knitted to form an interlocking chain of thousands of tiny loops, making it easy to pack below the gingival margin.

The unique knitted design exerts a gentle continuous outward force following placement as knitted loops seek to open. Ultrapak cord is designed to enhance the ViscoStat^®/Astringedent^® and Dento-Infusor^® Tissue Management Technique; however, conventional techniques using alum, aluminum chloride, etc., are also enhanced when using Ultrapak plain knitted cords, since they carry significantly greater quantities of hemostatic solution than conventional cords.

I use these cords in a two-cord impression technique. As soon as I break the contacts, I place a #00 cord around the entire preparation, being sure to keep the ends flush and the entire cord subgingival. This first cord retracts the gingiva approximately .5 to .75 mm. I place my gingival margins at this new gingival level, so that when this cord is removed the margins of my crown will be just slightly subgingival.

At the end of the preparation, I place a #2E cord on top of the #00 cord. This cord retracts the gingiva so that when it is removed there will be sufficient room for the syringe impression material. Since we leave the bottom #00 cord in place, there is never any bleeding when we remove the #2E cord, and this is one of the significant advantages of the two-cord technique. The #2E cord is impregnated with epinephrine, and if you prefer to use no medicaments on your cord, you would simply substitute a #2 cord for a #2E cord.

ViscoStat, Astringedent and Dento-Infusor are registered trademarks of Ultradent Products, Inc. (South Jordan, Utah).